Neuroparasites

Neuroparasites are parasites that affect the nervous system either directly or indirectly. They could be responsible for very serious or even life-threatening diseases. Neuroparasites can produce a variety of clinical disorders, such as meningitis and meningoencephalitis seen during infection with Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba, Balamuthia mandrillaris, Angiostrongylus, Gnathostoma, and Baylisascaris; brain hemorrhage and necrosis caused by Naegleria fowleri (primary amebic meningoencephalitis), Acanthamoeba, and Balamuthia mandrillaris; cerebral edema and coma caused by Plasmodium falciparum (cerebral malaria); space occupying lesions and pressure atrophy caused by Taenia solium (neurocysticercosis), Echinococcus granulosus (hydatid cysts), E. histolytica (amebic brain abscess), Sappinia, and Taenia multiceps (coenurus cerebralis). Additionally, neuroparasites could cause alteration of the sleep rhythm, as seen in infection with Trypanosoma (sleeping sickness). Marked sensory and motor changes, paresthesia, anxiety, and behavioral changes are triggered by Toxoplasma and most of the neuroparasites. Neuroparasites could be one of the following: Parasites inhabiting CNS, e.g., free-living amebae (Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba, Balamuthia mandrillaris). Parasites carried to CNS, e.g., Taenia solium (neurocysticercosis), Echinococcus granulosus (hydatid cysts), E. histolytica (Amebic brain abscess), Taenia multiceps (coenurus cerebralis), and Schistosoma. Or they could be parasites with multiorgan effects, e.g., Trypanosoma, Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Toxocara (VL migrans), Angiostrongylus, Gnathostoma, and Baylisascaris.