Epilepsy and seropositivity rates of Toxocara canis and Toxoplasma gondii.
OBJECTIVE
Increased seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara canis have been observed in epileptic patients. Our aim is to determine whether there is any relationship between these agents and epilepsy in our cryptogenic epilepsy group.


METHODS
We studied specific IgG antibodies against T. gondii and T. canis in 100 cryptogenic epileptic patients and 50 healthy volunteers that had no history of epilepsy in their first degree relatives. We studied T. gondii and T. canis-specific IgG antibody serum levels and compared the values of these two groups.


RESULTS
We found similar T. gondii and T. canis serum IgG antibodies in patients with cryptogenic epilepsy and in the control group, even though the control group included more animal owners.


CONCLUSIONS
We did not show any relationships between epilepsy and positive T. gondii and T. canis serology in our epileptic patients.
Akyol
Ali
A
Adnan Menderes University, Medical Faculty, Department of Neurology, 09100 Aydin, Turkey. aakyol59@hotmail.com
Bicerol
Banu
B
Ertug
Sema
S
Ertabaklar
Hatice
H
Kiylioglu
Nefati
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000032:analysis; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000276:immunology*; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G