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Semin Neurol 2019; 39(03): 358-368
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1693036
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Parasitic Infections of the Nervous System

Hector H. Garcia
1   Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima, Peru
2   Center for Global Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
,
Avindra Nath
3   National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
,
Oscar H. Del Brutto
4   School of Medicine, Universidad Espiritu Santo Ecuador, Samborondon, Ecuador
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
02 August 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Parasitic infections of the central nervous system are much more common than suspected, although most infections are asymptomatic. For example, parasites like the ubiquitous protozoa Toxoplasma gondii or the nematode larvae Toxocara canis infect significant proportions of the human population. Other parasitic infections such as malaria and neurocysticercosis are widespread in developing countries and become major causes of neurological morbidity in these regions as well in immigrants and travelers. This article reviews parasitic pathogens causing neurological morbidity and mortality, including an extensive list of less common parasitic infections of the human nervous system.

Keywords

parasitic infections - nervous system - malaria - cysticercosis - toxoplasmosis - toxocariasis
 

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