Cysticercosis it’s a disease caused by eating the egg’s parasite by fecal-oral route, for not having good hygiene measures. The disease may develop without showing symptoms after months or even years of eating them and may be present itself in the eyes, muscles and the brain, causing death.
The highest rates of infection are found in areas of Latin America, Asia, and Africa that have poor sanitation and free-ranging pigs that have access to human feces and where hygiene practices are poor.
The fatality rate for cysticercosis is 60% in humans and It is one of the main neglected tropical diseases since 2010. (WHO 2010)
The principal problems around the treatment and control of the disease are:
1.- Lack of timely diagnosis
2.- Inefficient diagnosis methods
3.- Expensive procedures
4.- Lack of awareness about the disease
5.- Lack of location of the parasite and when it’s contracted.
The main commitment with this project is:
How might we detect taenia solium in early stages to prevent cysticercosis and without presenting severe symptoms? Focusing mainly on rural areas.
It will be possible with LEKA. The biodegradable, non-invasive and easily accessible test to detect the parasite through feces.