Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hydatidosis of the Central Nervous System in Central and Eastern Europe

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Hydatidosis of the Central Nervous System: Diagnosis and Treatment

  • 640 Accesses

Abstract

Hydatidosis (also known as echinococcosis or hydatid disease) is one of Europe’s neglected infections of poverty. Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is endemic in Southwestern and Eastern parts of Europe. Although alveolar echinococcosis was considered a rare disease in Central Europe, recent studies have shown its emerging nature and demonstrated that the endemic areas for this parasite are broader than previously thought. This chapter aims not only to review but also to bring to light new epidemiological and clinical data regarding hydatidosis of the central nervous system (CNS) in the countries of Eastern and Central Europe where information was available. At the same time, we intend to shed light on particular or interesting cases reported in the literature. Special emphasis will be given to the casuistic from Romania, listed in 1995 among the countries with the highest prevalence of CE worldwide and where, in the past, at least one person from 45.5 % of its localities underwent surgery for CE. Although rare in Central and Eastern Europe, hydatidosis of the CNS should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of any patient with seizures, focal neurological deficits, and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, especially when that person comes from regions with high disease prevalence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aleksic-Shihabi A, Vidolin EP. Cystic echinococcosis of the heart and brain: a case report. Acta Med Okayama. 2008;62:341–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arseni C, Samitca DC. Cranial and cerebral hydatid disease. Acta Psychiatr Neurol Scand. 1957;32:389–98.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arseni C, Horvath L, Sandor G. Compression of the spinal cord due to hydatid disease. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1960;35:1–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arseni C, Ciurea AV, Cristescu A, Marinescu V, Horvath L. Parazitoze ale sistemului nervos. Bucharest: Editura Stiintifica si Enciclopedica; 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arseni C, Aldea H, Obreja T, Ciurea AV, Tetraru C, Aldea A, Iacob M, Constantinescu AI. Momente din istoria neurochirurgiei romanesti. Bucharest: Editura Academiei Republicii Socialiste Romania; 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asanin B, Milic I, Milovic Z. Echinococcosis cerebri: report of two less common cases. Facta Universitatis, Ser Med Biol 2008;15:64–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Auer H, Aspock H. Incidence, prevalence and geographic distribution of human alveolar echinococcosis in Austria from 1854 to 1990. Parasitol Res. 1991;77:430–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Basara D. Surgical treatment of liver echinococcosis and analysis of risk factors (in Serbian). Master thesis, University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, Belgrade. 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauer WM, Obermuller H, Vogl T, Lissner J. Magnetic resonance in cerebral echinococcosis alveolaris (in German). Digitale Bilddiagn. 1984;4:129–31.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bensaid AH, Dietemann JL, de la Palavesa MM, Klinkert A, Kastler B, Gangi A, Jacquet G, Cattin F. Intracranial alveolar echinococcosis: CT and MRI. Neuroradiology. 1994;36:289–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bonis G, Sturm KW. Echinococcus alveolaris in the brain (in German). Med Klin. 1969;64:891–3.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Calma CL, Neghina AM, Vlaicu B, Neghina R. Cystic echinococcosis in the human population of a western Romanian county, 2004–2010. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2011;17:1731–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Calma CL, Neghina AM, Moldovan R, Dumitrascu V, Marincu I, Neghina R. Cystic Echinococcosis in Arad County, Romania. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2012;12:333–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ciurea AV, Vasilescu G, Nuteanu L, Carp N. Cerebral hydatid cyst in children. Experience of 27 cases. Childs Nerv Syst. 1995;11:679–85.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ciurea AV, Fountas KN, Coman TC, Machinis TG, Kapsalaki EZ, Fezoulidis NI, Robinson JS. Long-term surgical outcome in patients with intracranial hydatid cyst. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2006a;148:421–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ciurea AV, Giuseppe G, Machinis TG, Coman TC, Fountas KN. Orbital hydatid cyst in childhood: a report of two cases. South Med J. 2006b;99:620–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clement MD, Monange C, Miguet JP, Gisselbrecht H, Pageaut G, Garbillet JP. Cerebral localization of alveolar echinococcosis of the liver. Report of a case (in French). Rev Med Suisse Romande. 1974;94:11–4.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Czarkowski P, Cielebak E, Dacka P, Kondej B. Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2007. In: Bulletin of the National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw; 2008, p. 165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Djuricic SM, Grebeldinger S, Kafka DI, Djan I, Vukadin M, Vasiljevic ZV. Cystic echinococcosis in children – the seventeen-year experience of two large medical centers in Serbia. Parasitol Int. 2010;59:257–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Druschky KF, Niederstadt T, Jourdan W, Stoltze D, Heckl R. High-grade transverse syndrome caused by echinococcus cysts (in German). Nervenarzt. 1995;66:136–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dubinský P, Turekova L, Reiterova K, Svobodova V, Literak I, Klimes J, Martinek K, Kolarova L, Mrlik V. Echinococcus multilocularis in Slovak Republic: the first record in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Helminthologia. 1999;36:105–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gazibara T. Parazitska oboljenja mozga i moždanica – analiza biopsija u periodu od 2000–2004. godine (Parasitic diseases of the brain and meninges – analysis of biopsies performed between 2000 and 2004). Medicinski podmladak. 2005;57:23–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gherman I, Coman C, Fagarasanu D, Marinescu V. Boala hidatica. Bucharest: Editura Medicala; 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golemanov B, Grigorov N, Mitova R, Genov J, Vuchev D, Tamarozzi F, Brunetti E. Efficacy and safety of PAIR for cystic echinococcosis: experience on a large series of patients from Bulgaria. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011;84:48–51.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hagemann G, Gottstein B, Witte OW. Isolated Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cyst in the CNS with severe reaction to treatment. Neurology. 1999;52:1100–1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hotez PJ, Gurwith M. Europe’s neglected infections of poverty. Int J Infect Dis. 2011;15:e611–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Iacobiciu I. Aspecte imunoepidemiologice ale hidatidozei cu Echinococcus granulosus pe teritoriul Banatului. PhD thesis, Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie Carol Davila, Bucharest; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iacobiciu I, Stefanoiu V, Siko Barabasi S, Coroiu Z. Epidemiologia echinococozei-hidatidozei. Sfantu Gheorghe: SC Tipo Graf SRL; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  • Isik N, Silav G, Cerci A, Karabagli P, Elmaci I, Kalelioglu M. Cerebral alveolar echinococcosis. A case report with MRI and review of the literature. J Neurosurg Sci. 2007;51:145–51.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kasumov RD, Nikonov AA. Alveolar echinococcosis of the cavity of the sella turcica (in Russian). Zh Vopr Neirokhir Im N N Burdenko1984;1:47–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kern P. Clinical features and treatment of alveolar echinococcosis. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2010;23:505–12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kinceková J, Pavlinová J, Dubinský Jr P, Bober J, Vrzgula A, Zachar M. Occurrence of echinococcosis and its clinical symptoms in humans – current status in Slovakia. Slovak Vet J. 2008;33:170–2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinceková J, Dubinský P, Danová M, Bober J. Alveolar echinococcosis in humans in Slovakia in 2000–2010. In: Proceedings of Scientific Contributions and Abstracts from the 4th international scientific conference, infectious and parasitic diseases of animals, Košice, Slovakia; 2011. p. 141–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kutniakov VE, Mitrofanov LN. Metastasis in human alveococcosis (in Russian). Med Parazitol (Mosk). 1969;38:325–8.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lupascu G, Panaitescu D. Hidatidoza. Bucharest: Editura Academiei Republicii Socialiste Romania; 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martyshin NM. A case of alveolar cerebellar echinococcosis with favorable postoperative outcome (in Russian). Vopr Neirokhir. 1965;29:41–2.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mempel E, Grochowski W. Multiple echinococcal cysts in posterior cranial fossa and spinal cord treated surgically (in Polish). Neurol Neurochir Pol. 1973;7:741–4.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miterpáková M, Dubinský P. Fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) in Slovakia – summarizing the long-term monitoring. Helminthologia. 2011;48:155–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moldovan R, Neghina AM, Calma CL, Marincu I, Neghina R. Human cystic echinococcosis in two south-western and central-western Romanian counties: a 7-year epidemiological and clinical overview. Acta Trop. 2012;121:26–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moro P, Schantz PM. Echinococcosis: a review. Int J Infect Dis. 2009;13:125–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morovic M. Human hydatidosis in Dalmatia, Croatia. Epidemiol Infect. 1997;119:271–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Myjak P, Nahorski W, Pietkiewicz H, von Nickisch-Rosenegk M, Stolarczyk J, Kacprzak E, Felczak-Korzybska I, Szostakowska B, Lucius R. Molecular confirmation of human alveolar echinococcosis in Poland. Clin Infect Dis. 2003;37:e121–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neghina R, Neghina AM, Marincu I, Iacobiciu I. Epidemiology and epizootology of cystic echinococcosis in Romania 1862–2007. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2010;7:613–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neghina R, Neghina AM, Marincu I, Iacobiciu I. Cystic echinococcosis in Romania: the pediatric approach. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2011a;11:993–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neghina R, Neghina AM, Marincu I, Iacobiciu I. Epidemiology and history of human parasitic diseases in Romania. Parasitol Res. 2011b;108:1333–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Negovetic L, Lupret V, Smiljanic D, Arsenic B. Cranial vault and gigantic intracranial hydatid cyst in a young woman. Neurosurgery. 1990;27:480–1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nell M, Burgkart RH, Gradl G, von Eisenhart-Rothe R, Schaeffeler C, Trappe D, da Costa CP, Gradinger R, Kirchhoff C. Primary extrahepatic alveolar echinococcosis of the lumbar spine and the psoas muscle. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2011;15:10–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nothdurft HD, Jelinek T, Mai A, Sigl B, von Sonnenburg F, Loscher T. Epidemiology of alveolar echinococcosis in southern Germany (Bavaria). Infection. 1995a;23:85–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nothdurft HD, Jelinek T, Mai A, Sigl B, von Sonnenburg F, Loscher T. Epidemiology of alveolar echinococcosis in Bavaria (in German). Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1995b;120:1151–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ogleznev KI. Echinococcosis of the spinal cord and spine (in Russian). Vopr Neirokhir. 1963;27:56–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peresedov VV, Morgunov VA. Combination of aneurysm and primary echinococcosis of the brain (in Russian). Zh Vopr Neirokhir Im N N Burdenko. 1977;4:49–51.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Philippov P. Clinical aspects and treatment of echinococcosis of the brain. Some peculiarities of echinococcosis of the brain (in German). Beitr Neurochir. 1966;13:192–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Potapov AA, Goriainov SA, Okhlopkov VA, Kravchuk AD, Zakharova NE, Podoprigora AE, Kurnosov AB, Khit MA, Panina TN, Eliseeva NM. Multiple echinococcosis of brain, heart and kidneys (in Russian). Zh Vopr Neirokhir Im N N Burdenko. 2011;75:57–65.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reittner P, Szolar DH, Schmid M. Case report. Systemic manifestation of Echinococcus alveolaris infection. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1996;20:1030–2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rumboldt Z, Jednacak H, Talan-Hranilovic J, Rumboldt T, Kalousek M. Unusual appearance of a cisternal hydatid cyst. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2003;24:112–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid M, Samonigg H, Stoger H, Auer H, Sternthal MH, Wilders-Truschnig M, Reisinger EC. Use of interferon gamma and mebendazole to stop the progression of alveolar hydatid disease: case report. Clin Infect Dis. 1995;20:1543–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid M, Pendl G, Samonigg H, Ranner G, Eustacchio S, Reisinger EC. Gamma knife radiosurgery and albendazole for cerebral alveolar hydatid disease. Clin Infect Dis. 1998;26:1379–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shubina LP, Timofeeva AS. On mental disorders in alveolar echinococcosis of the brain (in Russian). Zh Nevropatol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 1967;67:755–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sotiraki S, Chaligiannis I. Cystic echinococcosis in Greece. Past and present. Parasite. 2010;17:205–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spies C, Weisskopf M, Ohnsorge JA. Intraspinal echinococcosis within the lumbar spine of an 18-year-old male patient (in German). Z Orthop Unfall. 2008;146:463–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Štefancíková A, Dubinský P. Surveillance of zoonoses. Helminthozoonoses of the Slovak Republic [in Slovak]. In: State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic. Surveillance of Zoonoses: Slovak Republic 2009. Košice: Press Print; 2010. p. 18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stefanoiu V, Vranceanu L. Considerations on 407 cases of children hydatidosis. Rom J Parasitol. 1994;4:74–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talan-Hranilovic J, Sajko T, Negovetic L, Lupret V, Kalousek M. Cerebral cysticercosis and echinococcosis: a preoperative diagnostic dilemma. Arch Med Res. 2002;33:590–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thaler M, Gabl M, Lechner R, Gstottner M, Bach CM. Severe kyphoscoliosis after primary Echinococcus granulosus infection of the spine. Eur Spine J. 2010;19:1415–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Todorov T, Vutova K, Petkov D, Balkanski G. Albendazole treatment of multiple cerebral hydatid cysts: case report. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1988;82:150–2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turceková L, Šnábel V, Dudinák V, Gašpar V, Dubinský P. Prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in pigs from Slovakia, with evaluation of size, fertility and number of hydatid cysts. Helminthologia. 2009;46:151–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veselitskii SK. On the problem of remote results of operative treatment of alveolar echinococcosis of the brain (in Russian). Vopr Neirokhir. 1959;23:44–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe. Centralized information system for infectious diseases (CISID). 2011. http://data.euro.who.int/CISID/. Accessed 3 Dec 2011.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Pneumology, Epidemiology and Parasitology, Discipline of Parasitology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq, 300041, Timisoara, Romania

    Raul Neghina MD, PhD

  2. Department of Parasitic Zoonoses, Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia

    Villiam Šnábel RNDr., PhD

  3. Centre for Parasitic Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Branko Bobić MD, PhD & Olgica Djurković-Djaković MD, PhD

  4. Department of Microbiology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania

    Roxana Moldovan MD, PhD

  5. Department of Pathophysiology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania

    Claudia Borza MD, PhD

  6. Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Emergency County Hospital, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania

    Victor Dumitrascu MD, PhD

  7. Department of Physiology and Immunology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania

    Crenguta L. Calma MD, PhD

  8. Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania

    Adriana M. Neghina MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Raul Neghina MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Villiam Šnábel RNDr., PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Branko Bobić MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Olgica Djurković-Djaković MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Roxana Moldovan MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Claudia Borza MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Victor Dumitrascu MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Crenguta L. Calma MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Adriana M. Neghina MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raul Neghina MD, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydin, Turkey

    Mehmet Turgut

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Neghina, R. et al. (2014). Hydatidosis of the Central Nervous System in Central and Eastern Europe. In: Turgut, M. (eds) Hydatidosis of the Central Nervous System: Diagnosis and Treatment. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54359-3_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54359-3_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-54358-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-54359-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation