ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2023
Epilepsy and nodding syndrome in association with an Onchocerca volvulus infection drive distinct immune profile patterns.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03653975 (Clinical Features and Potential Etiology of Epilepsy and Nodding Syndrome in the Mahenge Area, Ulanga District), which is not on this map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Clinical Features and Potential Etiology of Epilepsy and Nodding Syndrome in the Mahenge Area, Ulanga District
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- Onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy and biomarkers.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2024Article
- Active infection with Onchocerca volvulus and the linkage to epilepsy/nodding syndrome.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2024Article
- Emerging and Re-Emerging Parasitic Infections of the Central Nervous System (CNS) in Europe.Infectious disease reports · 2023Review
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Authors and funding
17 authors at 8 institutions in 5 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Previous studies have described the association of onchocerciasis (caused by Onchocerca volvulus) with epilepsy, including nodding syndrome, although a clear etiological link is still missing. Cases are found in different African countries (Tanzania, South Sudan, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic and Cameroon). In our study we investigated immunological parameters (cytokine, chemokine, immunoglobulin levels) in individuals from the Mahenge area, Tanzania, presenting with either epilepsy or nodding syndrome with or without O. volvulus infection and compared them to O. volvulus negative individuals from the same endemic area lacking neurological disorders. Additionally, cell differentiation was performed using blood smears and systemic levels of neurodegeneration markers, leiomodin-1 and N-acetyltyramine-O, β-glucuronide (NATOG) were determined. Our findings revealed that cytokines, most chemokines and neurodegeneration markers were comparable between both groups presenting with epilepsy or nodding syndrome. However, we observed elevated eosinophil percentages within the O. volvulus positive epilepsy/nodding syndrome patients accompanied with increased eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) and antigen-specific IgG levels in comparison to those without an O. volvulus infection. Furthermore, highest levels of NATOG were found in O. volvulus positive nodding syndrome patients. These findings highlight that the detection of distinct biomarkers might be useful for a differential diagnosis of epilepsy and nodding syndrome in O. volvulus endemic areas. Trial-registration: NCT03653975.
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