Objective: The objective is the presentation of a movement disorder related to Taenia solium infection that produces neurocysticercosis.

Background: The incidence of neurocysticercosis in Bolivia is 450 per 100,000 inhabitants, found in 6 of the country’s nine departments, and frequent in the population of the Altiplano. Among symptomatic cases, the primary manifestation is epileptic seizures, and movement disorders are rare. In a 20-year descriptive study at the Eugenio Espejo Hospital in Quito, Ecuador, of 590 patients, only 23 with neurocysticercosis developed movement disorders.

Method: Case report: A 47-year-old male from Pacajes province, Department of La Paz, who is a sheep and cattle farmer, has been experiencing dizziness and language disorders for five years. He was admitted to the Neurology Unit of Hospital de Clinicas Universitario. In a brain CT scan, multiple areas of low density were observed, with a central area of high density suggesting neurocysticercosis in the colloidal and granulomatous phases. He was treated with albendazole and corticosteroids, which partially improved the symptoms. Three months later, he presented with dysarthria and a generalized action tremor  (75 points according to the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin scale), He had an unsteady gait and needed support while walking. He was also unable to perform the tandem gait

Results: The patient’s treatment regimen involving corticosteroids, propranolol and physical rehabilitation was resumed. The patient underwent a CT scan 6 months later, which showed a decrease in lesions. The lesions were in the granulomatous and calcified phase. On physical examination, the patient demonstrated a decrease in tremors (27 points according to the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin scale), walked with adequate support, did not require the use of a cane or any other support, had coherent and fluent speech, and showed no signs of dysarthria.

Conclusion: In a review of the association between Neurocysticercosis and movement disorders, it was observed that the most common forms of presentation include parkinsonism, dystonia, and chorea. However, there are not many cases of ataxia or tremor. Bolivia is known to be an endemic country for this parasitic infection, however, to the best of our knowledge this is the first report of movement disorders associated with neurocysticercosis in Bolivia.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/movement-disorders-secondary-to-neurocysticercosis-a-case-report-from-bolivia/