Sparganosis Epidemiology and Molecular Characterization
Summary
Sparganosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the plerocercoid larvae (spargana) of Spirometra tapeworms, with a global distribution that disproportionately affects regions in East and Southeast Asia. Human infection occurs through ingestion of contaminated water or undercooked intermediate hosts such as frogs, snakes and other wildlife, or via traditional poultice practices. Clinical manifestations range from subcutaneous nodules and ocular lesions to severe cerebral involvement, where larvae migration produces characteristic “tunnel” signs on imaging. Recent advances in serological and molecular assays, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent tests and multiplex PCR, have refined diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. Concurrently, genomic and transcriptomic analyses have begun to reveal metabolic pathways and genetic diversity within Spirometra species, informing both epidemiological tracking and the pursuit of novel therapeutic targets. The interplay between ecological factors, host behaviour and parasite genetics underpins the risk landscape, emphasising the need for integrated surveillance and molecular characterisation to guide public health interventions.
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Sparganosis Epidemiology and Molecular Characterization publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in sparganosis epidemiology and molecular characterization across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Sparganosis: Infection caused by the plerocercoid larvae of Spirometra tapeworms.
Spargana: Larval form of Spirometra species that can infect various vertebrate hosts.
Plerocercoid: Non-segmented larval stage of certain cestodes, characterised by an elongated body adapted to tissue invasion.
Serological biomarker: Measurable antibody or antigen in blood used to assess disease presence or prognosis.
Multiplex PCR: Molecular technique that amplifies multiple DNA targets simultaneously for species identification.
References
- The serum IgG antibody level as a biomarker for clinical outcome in patients with cerebral sparganosis after treatment. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
- Important nutrient sources and carbohydrate metabolism patterns in the growth and development of spargana. Parasites & Vectors (2024).
- The genome of the sparganosis tapeworm Spirometra erinaceieuropaeiisolated from the biopsy of a migrating brain lesion. Genome Biology (2014).
- CT and MR Characteristics of Cerebral Sparganosis. American Journal of Neuroradiology (2007).
- Large-scale survey of a neglected agent of sparganosis Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) in wild frogs in China. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases (2020).
- Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Prevention of Sparganosis in Asia. Animals (2022).
About these summaries
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