Nodding syndrome, a case-control study in Mahenge, Tanzania: Onchocerca volvulus and not Mansonella perstans as a risk factor.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Nodding syndrome (NS) has been consistently associated with onchocerciasis. Nevertheless, a positive association between NS and a Mansonella perstans infection was found in South Sudan. We aimed to determine whether the latter parasite could be a risk factor for NS in Mahenge.

Methods

Cases of epilepsy were identified in villages affected by NS in Mahenge, Tanzania, and matched with controls without epilepsy of the same sex, age and village. We examined blood films of cases and controls to identify M. perstans infections. The participants were also asked for sociodemographic and epilepsy information, examined for palpable onchocercal nodules and onchocerciasis-related skin lesions and tested for anti-Onchocerca volvulus antibodies (Ov16 IgG4) by ELISA. Clinical ch

SUBMITTER: Amaral LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10313037 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature