Toni Wandra, Raka Sudewi, Ni Made Susilawati, Kadek Swastika, I Made Sudarmaja, Luh Putu Eka Diarthini, Ivan Elisabeth Purba, Munehiro Okamoto, Christine M. Budke and Akira Ito
Taeniasis, caused by infection with Taenia saginata or Taenia solium, occurs on Bali due to the consumption of undercooked beef and pork, respectively. Fieldwork conducted on Bali from 2002-2007, identified 69 taeniasis cases due to T. saginata. In August 2007, three T. saginata tapeworm carriers in the Gianyar district of Bali were treated with a single dose of praziquantel. Within a few hours of treatment, a 47 year old man had a seizure and was admitted to a hospital in the city of Denpasar. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed two cystic lesions in the man’s brain. Serology showed specific antibody responses to T. solium metacestode antigens. The patient was, therefore, diagnosed with a dual infection of T. solium neurocysticercosis (NCC) and T. saginata taeniasis. This case report is illustrative of the risk of veiled NCC in areas where T. saginata and T. solium are co-endemic. As globalization increases, the possibility of co-infections will continue to rise and researchers and physicians participating in mass drug administration programs will need to be vigilant in their monitoring for adverse effects.
