[Neurocysticercosis and occupational medicine]

Twenty individuals classified as disabled due to diagnosed cerebral cysticercosis were studied to correlate the presence of neurocysticercosis with the history of having worked in contact with organic solvents as possible triggering agents of the pathology. The study was performed by direct or indirect interrogatory, review of the case histories, serologic examinations, and psychological evaluation of the intellectual performance level and psychopathological index. Of the 20 subjects, 50% had been exposed to organic solvents in their work; all had been in contact with the infecting parasite, either through frequent consumption of pork meat, or through contact with fecal mass. The titers of the haemagglutination test varied from 1:2 to 1:256, being the diagnosis value of > or = 1:16. There was also a variation as a function of the antigen used for the sera tests performed in the sampled subjects, such as complete or incomplete somatic antigen, vesicular fluid, and excretions and secretions. Other variations found, such as symptoms and the results of the psychological evaluation are depicted in tables. It is concluded that in these cases, neurocysticercosis is an invalidating disease, and the presence of organic solvents is emphasized as an important factor of the disease or as a triggering factor.