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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Epilepsy and cysticercosis in North-West Cameroon: A serological study
Seizure, Volume 22, No. 4, Year 2013
Notification
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Description
Purpose: The prevalence of epilepsy in Cameroon is higher than that of the industrialized world and other developing countries. Neurocysticercosis due to Taenia solium infestation has been reported as a major cause of epilepsy in some parts of Cameroon although there are some conflicting data. The prevalence of epilepsy is especially high in the Momo division of the North-West Province of Cameroon. We hypothesized that individuals with epilepsy in this region have a higher percentage of seropositivity to T. solium than matched controls. Methods: We conducted a case-control study in the Momo subdivision of Ngie. Individuals with epilepsy were recruited from the health centers in Ngie. Control subjects were selected from 19 Ngie villages. Potential cases of people with epilepsy (PWE) were identified through a questionnaire applied by trained field workers, using history of epileptic seizures as a key indicator. Blood samples were taken from all consenting individuals by finger prick, stored in StabilZyme Select, and assayed for antibodies to T. solium in an Atlanta based reference laboratory. Results: We accrued 249 patients with epilepsy, of whom 237 met the inclusion criteria, and 245 age-matched controls. There was no significant difference in seropositivity to T. solium between those individuals with epilepsy (5%) and controls (4.9%). Conclusions: Our data do not support the hypothesis that epilepsy is associated with seropositivity to T. solium. It is highly unlikely that cysticercosis plays a causative role in the high prevalence of epilepsy in this region of Cameroon. © 2013 British Epilepsy Association.
Authors & Co-Authors
Elliott, Irene
Canada, Toronto
Hospital for Sick Children University of Toronto
Jerome, Ambanibe
Cameroon
Association of Orphans and the Disabled
Angwafor, Samuel A.
Cameroon, Yaounde
Central Hospital of Yaounde Fmbs
Smith, Mary Lou
Canada, Toronto
Hospital for Sick Children University of Toronto
Canada, Toronto
University of Toronto
Takougang, Innocent
Unknown Affiliation
Noh, John C.
United States, Atlanta
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Tsang, Victor C.W.
United States, Atlanta
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Wilkins, Patricia Procell
United States, Atlanta
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Cockburn, Lynn
Canada, Toronto
University of Toronto
Keystone, Jay S.
Canada, Toronto
University of Toronto
Njamnshi, Alfred Kongnyu
Cameroon, Yaounde
Ministry of Public Health Cameroon
Snead, O. Carter
Canada, Toronto
Hospital for Sick Children University of Toronto
Canada, Toronto
University of Toronto
Statistics
Citations: 22
Authors: 12
Affiliations: 6
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.seizure.2013.01.012
ISSN:
10591311
e-ISSN:
15322688
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Case-Control Study
Study Locations
Cameroon