Neurocysticercosis and epilepsy in Cameroon.
During January 2002 the frequency of Taenia solium cysticercosis was studied in a series of 504 epileptic patients from 3 rural localities in the West and North-West provinces of Cameroon using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for both circulating antigen (Ag-ELISA) and antibody (Ag-ELISA) detection. Taenia solium antigens were detected in the sera of 1.2% of the patients whereas specific antibodies against the parasite were present in 44.6% of the patients. Significantly less seropositive results in Ab-ELISA were recorded in Batibo than in Bandjoun and Bamendjou, whereas a borderline significant difference was recorded with increasing age. Furthermore, 56.2% of patients with late-onset epilepsy showed antibodies against cysticercosis. Taenia solium cysticercosis appears to be an important cause of epilepsy in Cameroon.
Zoli
André P
AP
University of Dschang, P.O. Box 222, Dschang, Cameroon.
Nguekam
Shey-Njila
Oliver
O
Nsame Nforninwe
Denis
D
Speybroeck
Niko
N
Ito
Akira
A
Sato
Marcello O
MO
Dorny
Pierre
P
Brandt
Jef
J
Geerts
Stanny
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D012423:Rural Health
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth