Neurocysticercosis presenting as a vertical one-and-a-half syndrome with associated contralesional horizontal gaze paresis

Contraversive Ocular Tilt Reaction with Contralesional Pseudo-Abducens Palsy in a Patient with Thalamomesencephalic Stroke

We report a patient presenting with unique neuroophthalmological features of contraversive ocular tilt reaction and concomitant contralesional pseudo-abducens palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of an acute infarct in the right thalamomesencephalic region. We discuss the clinical topography of these unique neuroophthalmological findings.

Cysticercosis in ophthalmology

Cysticercosis is caused by Taenia solium, a cestode or tapeworm that preferentially affects the subcutaneous tissue, brain, muscle, and the eye. It is traditionally a disease of low socioeconomic regions, but large-scale population migration has made it a matter of global concern. Its ocular invasion is a potentially blinding disease. In the last two decades, there has been considerable discussion of cysticercosis; however, most comes from a limited number of case observations. Thus, to overcome this limitation, we summarize and analyse twenty years of medical literature (from 2000 to 2020) on cysticercosis in ophthalmology.

Infectious ophthalmoplegias

Though infections account for a significant proportion of patients with ocular motor palsies, there is surprising paucity of literature on infectious ophthalmoplegias. Almost all types of infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) can lead to ocular motor palsies. The causative infectious agent can be diagnosed in most cases using an orderly stepwise approach. In this review we discuss how to approach a patient with ophthalmoplegia with main focus on infectious etiologies.

The Increase of Exotic Zoonotic Helminth Infections: The Impact of Urbanization, Climate Change and Globalization

Zoonotic parasitic diseases are increasingly impacting human populations due to the effects of globalization, urbanization and climate change. Here we review the recent literature on the most important helminth zoonoses, including reports of incidence and prevalence. We discuss those helminth diseases which are increasing in endemic areas and consider their geographical spread into new regions within the framework of globalization, urbanization and climate change to determine the effect these variables are having on disease incidence, transmission and the associated challenges presented for public health initiatives, including control and elimination.

Brainstem infarction with wall-eyed bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia syndrome and vertical one-and-a-half syndrome

We describe a rare case in which both wall-eyed bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia syndrome and vertical one-and-a-half syndrome were observed in a 68-year-old man with acute ischemic stroke. Concurrent horizontal and vertical gaze palsies are rare because the corresponding gaze centers are anatomically separated. The complicated gaze palsies observed in this patient might have resulted from long, vertical lesions affecting oculomotor pathways for both sides of the brain stem.