{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]],"date-time":"2026-09-26T05:30:12Z","timestamp":1790400612111,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"Cambridge University Press (CUP)","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2010,4,14]],"date-time":"2010-04-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1271203200000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/terms"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Parasitology"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2010,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>SUMMARY<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:bold>Introduction.<\/jats:bold>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<jats:italic>Onchocerca volvulus<\/jats:italic>(<jats:italic>O. volvulus<\/jats:italic>).<jats:bold>Methods.<\/jats:bold>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 (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>=135), those with either epilepsy (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>=61) or onchocerciasis only (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>=35), and healthy individuals (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>=69). Samples were evaluated for microfilaria, IgG<jats:sub>4<\/jats:sub>antibodies against<jats:italic>O. volvulus<\/jats:italic>,<jats:italic>O. volvulus<\/jats:italic>antibody index (CSF\/serum), and CSF routine parameters. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on skin snips and CSF.<jats:bold>Results.<\/jats:bold>No difference was found in microfilarial density between participants with and without epilepsy (<jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>=0\u00b7498). The antibody index was raised in 2 participants. CSF PCR was negative in all samples tested.<jats:bold>Discussion.<\/jats:bold>Our results do not give evidence of a relationship between<jats:italic>O. volvulus<\/jats:italic>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<jats:italic>O. volvulus<\/jats:italic>causing epilepsy cannot be excluded.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1017\/s0031182010000338","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2010,4,14]],"date-time":"2010-04-14T09:17:45Z","timestamp":1271236665000},"page":"1559-1568","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":63,"title":["The role of<i>Onchocerca volvulus<\/i>in the development of epilepsy in a rural area of Tanzania"],"prefix":"10.1017","volume":"137","author":[{"given":"REBEKKA","family":"K\u00d6NIG","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"AMIR","family":"NASSRI","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"MICHAEL","family":"MEINDL","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"WILLIAM","family":"MATUJA","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"ASLAM R.","family":"KIDUNDA","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"VERA","family":"SIEGMUND","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"GISELA","family":"BRETZEL","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"THOMAS","family":"L\u00d6SCHER","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"LOUISE","family":"JILEK-AALL","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"ERICH","family":"SCHMUTZHARD","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"ANDREA SYLVIA","family":"WINKLER","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"56","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2010,4,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref003","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.micinf.2003.11.003"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref008","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/327415a0"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref028","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0166-6851(89)90194-1"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref047","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.2000.63.85"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref020","first-page":"361","article-title":"The prevalence of epilepsy follows the distribution of onchocerciasis in a west Ugandan focus","volume":"74","author":"Kaiser","year":"1996","journal-title":"Bulletin of the World Health Organization"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref041","first-page":"1487","volume-title":"Manson's Tropical Diseases","author":"Simonsen","year":"2003"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref009","first-page":"151","article-title":"Onchocercose et \u00e9pilepsie. Enqu\u00eate \u00e9pid\u00e9miologique au Mali","volume":"60","author":"Farnarier","year":"2000","journal-title":"M\u00e9decine Tropicale: Revue due Corps de Sant\u00e9 Colonial"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref037","first-page":"505","article-title":"The distribution, bionomics and control of onchocerciasis vectors (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Eastern Africa and Yemen","volume":"30","author":"Raybould","year":"1979","journal-title":"Tropenmedizin und Parasitologie"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref017","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1528-1157.1992.tb02341.x"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref019","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0920-1211(98)00007-2"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref038","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1153","DOI":"10.1093\/clinchem\/37.7.1153","article-title":"Quantification of virus-specific antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid and serum: sensitive and specific detection of antibody synthesis in brain","volume":"37","author":"Reiber","year":"1991","journal-title":"Clinical Chemistry"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref007","first-page":"123","article-title":"Microfilariae in the cerebrospinal fluid, and neurological complications, during treatment of onchocerciasis with diethylcarbamazine","volume":"27","author":"Duke","year":"1976","journal-title":"Tropenmedizin und Parasitologie"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref044","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1528-1167.2008.01671.x"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref025","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pt.2005.11.006"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref045","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1258\/td.2010.090373"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref010","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0022149X00022653"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref021","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(94)90980-6"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref016","first-page":"305","article-title":"The problem of epilepsy in a rural Tanzanian tribe","volume":"1","author":"Jilek","year":"1970","journal-title":"African Journal of Medical Science"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref005","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1159\/000075958"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref039","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1528-1157.1992.tb01758.x"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref035","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0000461"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref049","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/165.5.964"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref024","first-page":"1","article-title":"Presencia de microfilarias de Onchocerca volvulus en el liquido cefalorraquideo de enfermos tratados con hetrazan","volume":"19","author":"Mazzotti","year":"1959","journal-title":"Revista del Instituto de Salubridad y Enfermedades Tropicales"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref048","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1515\/9783110215120"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref001","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0447.1965.tb04970.x"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref002","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0035-9203(02)90433-5"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref004","first-page":"405","article-title":"Absence of cellular responses to a putative autoantigen in onchocercal chorioretinopathy. Cellular autoimmunity in onchocercal chorioretinopathy","volume":"37","author":"Cooper","year":"1996","journal-title":"Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref006","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/oxfordjournals.aje.a009853"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref011","first-page":"126","article-title":"Quantification of amebae specific antibodies as \u201cMultiple of normal activity (MONA)\u201d with a standardized enzyme immunoassay (EIA)","volume":"251","author":"Funke","year":"1981","journal-title":"Zentralblatt f\u00fcr Bakteriologie, Mikrobiologie und Hygiene"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref012","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1084\/jem.182.1.41"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref022","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/158.5.1034"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref013","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1528-1157.1981.tb06159.x"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref014","first-page":"283","volume-title":"Recent Advances in Tropical Neurology","author":"Jilek-Aall","year":"1995"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref015","first-page":"37","volume-title":"The Brainstorms Village \u2013 Epilepsy in our World","author":"Jilek-Aall","year":"2003"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref018","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(96)90917-4"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref023","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1475-2883-5-6"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1212\/01.wnl.0000267664.53595.75"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref027","first-page":"2888","article-title":"Immunologic cross-reactivity in the pathogenesis of ocular onchocerciasis","volume":"34","author":"McKechnie","year":"1993","journal-title":"Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref029","first-page":"94","article-title":"Onchocerciasis prevalence in Tanzania","volume":"36","author":"Mwaiko","year":"1990","journal-title":"The Central African Journal of Medicine"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref030","first-page":"902","article-title":"Genetic analysis of Kifafa, a complex familial seizure disorder","volume":"57","author":"Neuman","year":"1995","journal-title":"American Journal of Human Genetics"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref031","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0035-9203(97)90009-2"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref032","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(79)91842-7"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref033","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/171.3.659"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref034","first-page":"554","article-title":"Epilepsy and retarded growth in a hyperendemic focus of onchocerciasis in rural western Uganda","volume":"69","author":"Ovuga","year":"1992","journal-title":"East African Medical Journal"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref036","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1086\/595852"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref040","first-page":"247","article-title":"Epidemiology of epilepsy in developing countries","volume":"71","author":"Senanayake","year":"1993","journal-title":"Bulletin of the World Health Organization"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref042","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1055\/s-2005-917662"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref043","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1528-1167.2007.01009_1.x"},{"key":"S0031182010000338_ref046","volume-title":"Bench Aids for the Diagnosis of Filarial Infection","year":"1997"}],"container-title":["Parasitology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/services\/aop-cambridge-core\/content\/view\/S0031182010000338","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2020,6,3]],"date-time":"2020-06-03T18:51:34Z","timestamp":1591210294000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/product\/identifier\/S0031182010000338\/type\/journal_article"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2010,4,14]]},"references-count":49,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2010,9]]}},"alternative-id":["S0031182010000338"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/s0031182010000338","relation":{},"ISSN":["0031-1820","1469-8161"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0031-1820","type":"print"},{"value":"1469-8161","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2010,4,14]]}}}