The aim of this study was to test if serological distinction between patients with active and inactive neurocysticercosis (NCC), could be accomplished by the recognition of immunodominant peptides in total saline antigenic extract of Taenia solium metacestodes by IgG antibody in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum paired samples. CSF and serum samples of 10 each, active NCC patients, inactive NCC, and individuals with other neurological disorders, were used to recognize the antigenic peptides by western blot (WB). In the active NCC the 28-32 and 39-42 kDa peptides were more frequently detected in CSF than in sera (p < 0.05). The 47-52, 64-68, and 70 kDa antigens showed high frequencies in both samples from patients with active NCC. All the CSF samples of inactive NCC and other neurological disorder (control) patients tested negative, while serum samples from these last two groups recognized mainly the 80, 86, 95, and 98 kDa bands. This finding eliminates the use of the high molecular weigh bands (> 80 kDa) for diagnosis of NCC. The final conclusions were that the difference between active and inactive NCC may be done with the detection of peptides only in the CSF samples and that the 47-52, 64-68, and 70 kDa bands may be included as specific markers for active NCC when detected in CSF samples by WB using total saline extract of T. solium metacestode.

Paired samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of 30 patients - 10 with active, 10 with inactive neurocysticercosis (NCC), and 10 control subjects - were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using two Taenia crassiceps metacestode extracts as antigen in order to detect IgG antibodies. In active NCC, high levels of IgG were detected (p < 0.05). The CSF samples showed 80% (CI 72-88) of reactivity in the saline extract (S) and 90% (CI 84-95) in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and the serum samples were reactive in 90% (CI 84-95) and 100% (CI 98-100) in the S and SDS antigenic extracts, respectively. The use of the paired samples of CSF and serum in active NCC showed equivalent results suggesting that the serum samples could be used as a screening in those patients whose CSF puncture is counter-indicated.

O envolvimento do sistema nervoso central na paracoccidioidomicose tem sido raramente descrito na literatura e sua frequência varia de 9,99% a 27,27%, manifestando-se basicamente sob duas formas clínicas: meníngea e pseudotumoral (abscessos, granulomas, nódulos ou cistos). O Paracoccidioides brasiliensis incide principalmente nos hemisférios cerebrais, podendo acometer ainda cerebelo, ponte, bulbo, meninges cerebrais e raquidianas, sendo excepcional o comprometimento do parênquima medular. Os autores apresentam o caso de um paciente com paracoccidioidomicose com evidências clínicas de comprometimento medular, comprovada por exames complementares indiretos pouco invasivos. Destacam a resposta terapêutica inédita a novo agente antifúngico bistriazólico, o fluconazol, pela primeira vez utilizado nesta forma de apresentação clínica da doença. Salientam a rariedade do comprometimento medular, o diagnóstico através de propedêutica não cirúrgica e a excelente resposta a este novo tratamento.

The involvement of central nervous system in paracoccidiodomycosis has rarely been described, with an incidence rate varying from 9.99% to 27.27%. There are two basic forms of clinical presentation: meningeal and tumor-like (abscesses, granulomas, nodules, and cysts). The Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is preferentially described in cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, medulla oblonga and meninges, and exceptionally in the spinal cord. The authors present a case of paracoccidioidomycosis which diagnosis was achieved by microscopic examination of material from oral lesions and specific serology. The patient presented clinical signs of spinal cord involvement confirmed by lesions found in magnetic resonance imaging. They emphasize the inedit therapeutic response to a new antifugal agent (fluconazole) used for the first time in this kind of clinical manifestation, and the excellent prognosis when diagnosis is promptly made.