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Arndts K, Kegele J, Ritter M, Prazeres da Costa C, Hoerauf A, Winkler AS. Active infection with Onchocerca volvulus and the linkage to epilepsy/nodding syndrome. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012076. [PMID: 38722927 PMCID: PMC11081337 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Arndts
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC), Partner Site Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Josua Kegele
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Department of Neurology and Epileptology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Manuel Ritter
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC), Partner Site Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Clarissa Prazeres da Costa
- Center for Global Health, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC), Partner Site Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Andrea S. Winkler
- Center for Global Health, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Arndts K, Kegele J, Massarani AS, Ritter M, Wagner T, Pfarr K, Lämmer C, Dörmann P, Peisker H, Menche D, Al-Bahra M, Prazeres da Costa C, Schmutzhard E, Matuja W, Hoerauf A, Layland-Heni LE, Winkler AS. Epilepsy and nodding syndrome in association with an Onchocerca volvulus infection drive distinct immune profile patterns. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011503. [PMID: 37535695 PMCID: PMC10426931 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
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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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Arndts
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, German
| | - Josua Kegele
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Department of Neurology and Epileptology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alain S. Massarani
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, German
| | - Manuel Ritter
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, German
| | - Thomas Wagner
- Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Germany
| | - Kenneth Pfarr
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, German
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christine Lämmer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, German
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Peter Dörmann
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology of Plants, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Helga Peisker
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology of Plants, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Dirk Menche
- Kekulé Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mazen Al-Bahra
- Kekulé Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Clarissa Prazeres da Costa
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Center for Global Health, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Erich Schmutzhard
- Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - William Matuja
- Department of Neurology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, German
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
- German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC), Partner Site Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Laura E. Layland-Heni
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, German
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Andrea S. Winkler
- Center for Global Health, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Abd-Elfarag GOE, Edridge AWD, Spijker R, Sebit MB, van Hensbroek MB. Nodding Syndrome: A Scoping Review. Trop Med Infect Dis 2021; 6:tropicalmed6040211. [PMID: 34941667 PMCID: PMC8703395 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed6040211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Nodding syndrome (NS) is a debilitating yet often neglected neurological disease affecting thousands of children in several sub-Saharan African countries. The cause of NS remains unknown, and effective treatment options are lacking. Moreover, knowledge regarding NS is scarce and is based on a limited number of publications, with no comprehensive overview published to date. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review was to summarise the current evidence and identify existing knowledge gaps in order to help clinicians, scientists, and policymakers develop guidelines for prioritising this severe condition. We searched the Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, and Global Health Library databases in accordance with the PRISMA extension for scoping review guidance and in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and methodology for a scoping review, using keywords describing NS. We then extracted and presented the original data regarding the epidemiology, aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of NS, as well as community perceptions and the psychosocial and economic impact of NS. Out of 1470 identified articles, a total of 69 were included in this scoping review. Major gaps exist in understanding the aetiology and pathogenesis of NS. Future research is urgently needed not only to address these gaps, but also to study the treatment options, epidemiology, and psychosocial and economic impacts of NS. Innovative interventions and rehabilitation programmes designed to address the psychosocial and economic burdens associated with NS are also urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gasim Omer Elkhalifa Abd-Elfarag
- Amsterdam Center for Global Health, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Global Health, Amsterdam UMC, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.W.D.E.); (M.B.v.H.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Arthur Wouter Dante Edridge
- Amsterdam Center for Global Health, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Global Health, Amsterdam UMC, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.W.D.E.); (M.B.v.H.)
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - René Spijker
- Amsterdam Public Health, Medical Library, Amsterdam UMC, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Mohamed Boy Sebit
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Juba, Juba P.O. Box 82, Sudan;
| | - Michaël B. van Hensbroek
- Amsterdam Center for Global Health, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Global Health, Amsterdam UMC, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.W.D.E.); (M.B.v.H.)
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