Could neurocysticercosis be the cause of "onchocerciasis-associated" epileptic seizures?
We conducted a nodule prevalence survey in four onchocerciasis sentinel communities in Moyo and two in Kanungu districts of Uganda. Seven (33.3%) out of 21 excised "onchocercomas" (nodules) in Moyo District and excised onchocercomas from four of six persons in Kanungu District turned out to be cysts of Taenia solium. We concluded that the prediction of nodule prevalence for noninvasive rapid epidemiologic assessment (REA) to target areas for mass chemotherapy with ivermectin in the African Program for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) supported areas may have been influenced by other pathologies. T. solium infection may be the main cause of "onchocerciasis-associated epileptic seizures" in many onchocerciasis endemic communities that have been causally linked to onchocerciasis. Lastly, widespread neurocysticercosis may be a concern in mass treatment programs that provide praziquantel (for managing schistosomiasis) or albendazole (for managing intestinal worms or lymphatic filariasis) because these drugs may kill cerebral cysticerci, resulting in severe adverse events.
Katabarwa
Moses
M
The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30307, USA. mkataba@emory.edu
Lakwo
Tom
T
Habumogisha
Peace
P
Richards
Frank
F
Eberhard
Mark
M
D015766:Albendazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D009854:Onchocerca / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D000091402:Prohibitins; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications*; D041201:Taenia solium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
D000871:Anthelmintics; C000717331:PHB2 protein, human; D000091402:Prohibitins; D011223:Praziquantel; D015766:Albendazole