Neuroparasitology and Tropical Neurology

Neuroparasitology and Tropical Neurology, a new volume in The Handbook of Clinical Neurology, provides a comprehensive and contemporary reference on parasitic infections of the human nervous system. Parasitic infections are varied and some are resolved by the host's immune system, other infections may become established even though unnoticed, and some cause severe disease and death. In our modern world, neuroparasitoses are no longer geographically isolated and these infections now appear worldwide. Outside of a very few well understood pathologies, most parasitic infections have been neglected in the neurological literature and most neurologists have never diagnosed such an infection. This volume details how, with the advent of modern neuroimaging techniques, improved diagnostic applications of molecular biology, more accurate immunodiagnosis, and minimally invasive neurosurgery, human nervous system parasitoses are now diagnosed and treated, with increasing frequency. The book is divided into six sections, and begins with an introduction to the mechanisms of infection, diagnosis, and pathology of parasitic diseases. Subsequent chapters detail protozoan diseases and a section covering each of the major classes of human-infecting helminths: nematodes (roundworms), trematodes (flukes), and cestodes (tapeworms). The final section contains chapters on other important areas of tropical clinical medicine including the neurological complications of venomous bites and tropical nutritional deficiencies. Neuroparasitology and Tropical Neurology will be of interest to neurologists, neurosurgeons and other health professionals encountering patients with parasitic infections.

Section 1 Introduction Neurological aspects of neglected tropical diseases Section 2 Pathophysiology and characteristics Mechanisms of CNS invasion and damage by parasites; Immunodiagnosis of CNS Parasitic Infections; Imaging of CNS parasitic infections; Pathology of CNS parasitic infections Section 3 Protozoa Cerebral malaria; American Trypanosomiasis; Toxoplasmosis; Entamoeba histolytica brain abscess; Infections with Free-Living Amebae; Human African trypanosomiasis; Microsporidiasis; Neurological Neurologic Manifestations of Human Leishmaniasis; Neurologic Manifestations of Human Babesiosis Section 4 Nematoda Eosinophilic Meningitis; Toxocariasis; Strongyloides stercoralis infection; complicating the central nervous system; Neurological manifestations of filarial infections; Neurotrichinellosis; Baylisascaris Larva Migrans; Other helminthic infections: Ascariasis, Dracontiasis, Lagochilascariasis, Micronemiasis Section 5 Trematoda Schistosomiasis of the nervous system; Paragonimiasis; Direct and indirect affection of the central nervous system by Fasciola infection Section 6 Cestoda Neurocysticercosis; Cystic and alveolar echinococcosis; Other cestodes - Coenurosis, Sparganosis, Taenia crassiceps cysticercosis Section 7 Other tropical neurological pathologies Neurological effects of venomous bites and stings: snakes, spiders, and scorpions; Effects of geohelminth infections on neurological development; Nutritional disorders in tropical neurology