Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42141480›Full record

ReviewParasites & vectors2026

Human neurocysticercosis unexpectedly caused by Taenia martis in Italy: a case report and literature review.

Azzurra Santoro, Antonio Di Grazia, Marina Cuntrò, Elena Gervasi, Luca Baldassarri, Marco Arosio, Matteo Lacavalla, Simona Cherchi, Alessandra Ludovisi, Federica Santolamazza and 5 more

Abstract readCase ReportsReview
In one paragraph

Review in Parasites & vectors, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Azzurra SantoroEuropean Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites (EURL-P), Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy. azzurra.santoro@iss.it.
Antonio Di GraziaEuropean Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites (EURL-P), Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Marina CuntròSC Clinical Microbiology and Virology, ASST "Papa Giovanni XXIII", Bergamo, Italy.
Elena GervasiInfectious Diseases Unit, ASST "Papa Giovanni XXIII", Bergamo, Italy.
Luca BaldassarriInfectious Diseases Unit, ASST "Papa Giovanni XXIII", Bergamo, Italy.
Marco ArosioSC Clinical Microbiology and Virology, ASST "Papa Giovanni XXIII", Bergamo, Italy.
Matteo LacavallaSC Clinical Microbiology and Virology, ASST "Papa Giovanni XXIII", Bergamo, Italy.
Simona CherchiEuropean Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites (EURL-P), Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Alessandra LudovisiEuropean Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites (EURL-P), Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Federica SantolamazzaEuropean Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites (EURL-P), Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Irene TartarelliEuropean Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites (EURL-P), Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Francesco CelaniEuropean Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites (EURL-P), Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Annibale RaglioSC Clinical Microbiology and Virology, ASST "Papa Giovanni XXIII", Bergamo, Italy.
Edoardo CarrettoSC Clinical Microbiology and Virology, ASST "Papa Giovanni XXIII", Bergamo, Italy.
Adriano CasulliEuropean Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites (EURL-P), Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.

Funding

European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) 101200161
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCysticercosis is caused by the larval stages of Taenia and Versteria species. While Taenia solium, associated with a domestic life cycle, is the primary etiological agent of human (neuro)cysticercosis worldwide, sporadic cases involving Taenia species linked to wildlife have also been reported. A 72‑year‑old immunocompetent woman presented in October 2024 to the Emergency Department with paresthesia, gait imbalance, and severe headache. Neuroimaging revealed a <1‑cm edematous lesion in the frontal cortex, suspicious for metastasis. Surgical removal was performed. Histopathological examination showed necrotic tissue with abundant inflammatory infiltrate, ruling out neoplasia and raising suspicion of an infectious etiology. She was discharged in February 2025 with improved symptoms. Ongoing follow-up demonstrated progressive improvement leading to complete remission.

methodsSerological tests, coproparasitological examinations, and panfungal PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene were performed. Intraoperative material, including formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples, was collected and processed for histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular analyses. Histological sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). Immunohistochemical analyses were carried out on FFPE sections to investigate infection with Echinococcus spp. For molecular analysis, genomic DNA was extracted from FFPE tissue using a dedicated commercial kit, following the manufacturer's instructions. Mitochondrial gene targets (cox1, nad1, and 12S rRNA) were amplified by PCR and subsequently sequenced.

resultsSerological tests, coproparasitological examinations, and panfungal PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene were negative. Histological analysis showed an inflammatory lesion with a necrotic core, while immunohistochemical analyses were negative for Echinococcus spp. Molecular analysis was positive, and sequence and phylogenetic analyses identified the cestode Taenia martis.

conclusionsThis finding underscores the need for clinicians to consider less common Taenia species as potential causes of cysticercosis and neurocysticercosis, particularly when serological tests are negative or inconclusive despite a clinically suggestive presentation.

Indexed as

NeurocysticercosisTaeniaAgedAnimalsFemaleHumansItalyRNA, Ribosomal, 18SRNA, Ribosomal, 18SNeurocysticercosisOne HealthTaenia martisZoonosis

Identifiers

PMID42141480
PMCPMC13330242

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.