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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 78(3), 2008, pp. 400-401
Copyright © 2008 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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SHORT REPORT


Could Neurocysticercosis Be the Cause of "Onchocerciasis-Associated" Epileptic Seizures?

Moses Katabarwa*, Tom Lakwo, Peace Habumogisha, Frank Richards, AND Mark Eberhard
The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia (USA and Uganda); Ministry of Health (Uganda); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia

 

ABSTRACT

We conducted a nodule prevalence survey in four onchocerciasis sentinel communities in Moyo and two in Kanungu districts of Uganda. Seven (33.3%) out of 21 excised "onchocercomas" (nodules) in Moyo District and excised onchocercomas from four of six persons in Kanungu District turned out to be cysts of Taenia solium. We concluded that the prediction of nodule prevalence for noninvasive rapid epidemiologic assessment (REA) to target areas for mass chemotherapy with ivermectin in the African Program for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) supported areas may have been influenced by other pathologies. T. solium infection may be the main cause of "onchocerciasis-associated epileptic seizures" in many onchocerciasis endemic communities that have been causally linked to onchocerciasis. Lastly, widespread neurocysticercosis may be a concern in mass treatment programs that provide praziquantel (for managing schistosomiasis) or albendazole (for managing intestinal worms or lymphatic filariasis) because these drugs may kill cerebral cysticerci, resulting in severe adverse events.

Received September 20, 2007. Accepted for publication November 25, 2007.

* Address correspondence to Moses Katabarwa, 3457 Thornewood Dr., Atlanta, GA 30340. E-mails: rzk5{at}cdc.gov and mkataba{at}emory.edu

Authors’ addresses: Moses Katabarwa, Tom Lakwo, Peace Habumogisha, Frank Richards, and Mark Eberhard, The Carter Center, One Copenhill, 453 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30307. E-mails: rzk5{at}cdc.gov and mkataba{at}emory.edu.






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