02744nas a2200505   4500000000100000008004100001653001600042653001300058653000900071653002100080653001500101653001900116653002400135653001600159653001700175653000900192653002100201653001100222653001100233653001300244653001000257653002400267653001000291653002500301653001200326653000900338653001000347653001500357100001300372700001300385700001300398700001300411700001400424700001500438700001400453700001500467700001700482700001800499700001500517245009600532300001200628490000800640520157600648022001402224       2010                            d10aYoung Adult10aTanzania10aSkin10aRural Population10aPrevalence10aonchocerciasis10aOnchocerca volvulus10aMiddle Aged10aMicrofilaria10aMale10aImmunoglobulin G10aHumans10aFemale10aEpilepsy10aChild10aCerebrospinal Fluid10aBlood10aAntibodies, Helminth10aAnimals10aAged10aAdult10aAdolescent1 aKönig R1 aNassri A1 aMeindl M1 aMatuja W1 aKidunda A1 aSiegmund V1 aBretzel G1 aLöscher T1 aJilek-Aall L1 aSchmutzhard E1 aWinkler AS00aThe role of Onchocerca volvulus in the development of epilepsy in a rural area of Tanzania.  a1559-680 v1373 a<p><strong>INTRODUCTION: </strong>Several reports indicate high prevalences of both onchocerciasis and epilepsy in some regions of Africa. This raises the question of whether these diseases are associated. We therefore investigated people with epilepsy and/or onchocerciasis living in an area in Tanzania endemic for Onchocerca volvulus (O. volvulus).</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>We collected clinical information, skin snips, and blood from 300 individuals, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 197. Participants were allocated to 4 groups consisting of people with epilepsy and onchocerciasis (n=135), those with either epilepsy (n=61) or onchocerciasis only (n=35), and healthy individuals (n=69). Samples were evaluated for microfilaria, IgG4 antibodies against O. volvulus, O. volvulus antibody index (CSF/serum), and CSF routine parameters. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on skin snips and CSF.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>No difference was found in microfilarial density between participants with and without epilepsy (P=0.498). The antibody index was raised in 2 participants. CSF PCR was negative in all samples tested.</p>

<p><strong>DISCUSSION: </strong>Our results do not give evidence of a relationship between O. volvulus and epilepsy. Despite the fact that 2 participants had raised antibody index, the existence of cerebral onchocerciasis caused by migration of microfilariae into the CSF appears unlikely. However, to date unexplored reactions to the infestation with O. volvulus causing epilepsy cannot be excluded.</p>
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