Neurotropism of Parasites and the Immune Responses

Abstract

Parasitic infections of the central and peripheral nervous systems represent a significant source of morbidity and mortality, especially in humans living in low-to-middle income endemic countries. Examples of these are cerebral malaria, neurocysticercosis, African and American trypanosomiasis and toxoplasmic encephalitis, which may have a predilection for the CNS. In spite of the known association between parasitic infections and specific neurological, cognitive and mental disorders, the exact mechanisms by which “neurotropic” parasites (i) enter the central nervous system (CNS) via the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and via the blood-CSF barrier and (ii) induce neurological damage have not been fully elucidated yet...