From river blindness to river epilepsy: Implications for onchocerciasis elimination programmes

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0007407

. 2019 Jul 18;13(7):e0007407.

doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007407. eCollection 2019 Jul.

From river blindness to river epilepsy: Implications for onchocerciasis elimination programmes

Robert Colebunders¹, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo¹, Adrian Hopkins², An Hotterbeekx¹, Thomson L Lakwo³, Akili Kalinga⁴, Makoy Yibi Logora⁵, Maria-Gloria Basáñez⁶

Affiliations

¹ Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
² Neglected and Disabling Diseases of Poverty Consultant, Kent, United Kingdom.
³ Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
⁴ National institute for Medical Research, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
⁵ Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Ministry of Health, Juba, South Sudan.
⁶ London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research and MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC-GIDA), Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.

PMID: 31318857
PMCID: PMC6638735
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007407

Free PMC article

From river blindness to river epilepsy: Implications for onchocerciasis elimination programmes

Robert Colebunders et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2019.

Free PMC article

. 2019 Jul 18;13(7):e0007407.

doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007407. eCollection 2019 Jul.

Authors

Robert Colebunders¹, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo¹, Adrian Hopkins², An Hotterbeekx¹, Thomson L Lakwo³, Akili Kalinga⁴, Makoy Yibi Logora⁵, Maria-Gloria Basáñez⁶

Affiliations

¹ Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
² Neglected and Disabling Diseases of Poverty Consultant, Kent, United Kingdom.
³ Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
⁴ National institute for Medical Research, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
⁵ Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Ministry of Health, Juba, South Sudan.
⁶ London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research and MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC-GIDA), Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.

PMID: 31318857
PMCID: PMC6638735
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007407

No abstract available

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

**Fig 1. Collaboration between onchocerciasis elimination and mental health surveillance programmes.**
In the proposed framework, onchocerciasis mapping efforts should encompass OAE surveillance using simple criteria (Table 2). High onchocerciasis prevalence and/or ongoing transmission warrants reinforcement of onchocerciasis elimination and epilepsy assessment. Detected epilepsy hotspots should become targets for improved management strategies in collaboration with mental health experts. ATS, alternative treatment strategy; CDTI, community-directed treatment with ivermectin; MMDP, morbidity management and disability prevention; NOEC, national onchocerciasis elimination committees; OAE, onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy.

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References

1. Casis Sacre G. El sindrome epiléptico y sus relaciones con la oncocercosis. Boletin Salubr E Hig Mex. 1938;1: 11–31.
1. Colebunders R, Siewe FJN, Hotterbeekx A. Onchocerciasis-Associated Epilepsy, an Additional Reason for Strengthening Onchocerciasis Elimination Programs. Trends Parasitol. 2018;34: 208–216. 10.1016/j.pt.2017.11.009 - DOI - PubMed
1. Chesnais CB, Nana-Djeunga HC, Njamnshi AK, Lenou-Nanga CG, Boullé C, Bissek A-CZ-K, et al. The temporal relationship between onchocerciasis and epilepsy: a population-based cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2018;18: 1278–1286. 10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30425-0 - DOI - PubMed
1. Wamala JF, Malimbo M, Tepage F, Lukwago L, Okot CL, Cannon RO, et al. Nodding Syndrome May Be Only the Ears of the Hippo. Ekpo UF, editor. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015;9: e0003880 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003880 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Colebunders R, Hendy A, Mokili JL, Wamala JF, Kaducu J, Kur L, et al. Nodding syndrome and epilepsy in onchocerciasis endemic regions: comparing preliminary observations from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with data from Uganda. BMC Res Notes. 2016;9: 182 10.1186/s13104-016-1993-7 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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[1] Casis Sacre G. El sindrome epiléptico y sus relaciones con la oncocercosis. Boletin Salubr E Hig Mex. 1938;1: 11–31.

[2] Casis Sacre G. El sindrome epiléptico y sus relaciones con la oncocercosis. Boletin Salubr E Hig Mex. 1938;1: 11–31.

[3] Colebunders R, Siewe FJN, Hotterbeekx A. Onchocerciasis-Associated Epilepsy, an Additional Reason for Strengthening Onchocerciasis Elimination Programs. Trends Parasitol. 2018;34: 208–216. 10.1016/j.pt.2017.11.009 - DOI - PubMed

[4] Colebunders R, Siewe FJN, Hotterbeekx A. Onchocerciasis-Associated Epilepsy, an Additional Reason for Strengthening Onchocerciasis Elimination Programs. Trends Parasitol. 2018;34: 208–216. 10.1016/j.pt.2017.11.009 - DOI - PubMed

[5] Chesnais CB, Nana-Djeunga HC, Njamnshi AK, Lenou-Nanga CG, Boullé C, Bissek A-CZ-K, et al. The temporal relationship between onchocerciasis and epilepsy: a population-based cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2018;18: 1278–1286. 10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30425-0 - DOI - PubMed

[6] Chesnais CB, Nana-Djeunga HC, Njamnshi AK, Lenou-Nanga CG, Boullé C, Bissek A-CZ-K, et al. The temporal relationship between onchocerciasis and epilepsy: a population-based cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2018;18: 1278–1286. 10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30425-0 - DOI - PubMed

[7] Wamala JF, Malimbo M, Tepage F, Lukwago L, Okot CL, Cannon RO, et al. Nodding Syndrome May Be Only the Ears of the Hippo. Ekpo UF, editor. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015;9: e0003880 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003880 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[8] Wamala JF, Malimbo M, Tepage F, Lukwago L, Okot CL, Cannon RO, et al. Nodding Syndrome May Be Only the Ears of the Hippo. Ekpo UF, editor. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015;9: e0003880 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003880 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[9] Colebunders R, Hendy A, Mokili JL, Wamala JF, Kaducu J, Kur L, et al. Nodding syndrome and epilepsy in onchocerciasis endemic regions: comparing preliminary observations from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with data from Uganda. BMC Res Notes. 2016;9: 182 10.1186/s13104-016-1993-7 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Colebunders R, Hendy A, Mokili JL, Wamala JF, Kaducu J, Kur L, et al. Nodding syndrome and epilepsy in onchocerciasis endemic regions: comparing preliminary observations from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with data from Uganda. BMC Res Notes. 2016;9: 182 10.1186/s13104-016-1993-7 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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From river blindness to river epilepsy: Implications for onchocerciasis elimination programmes

Affiliations

From river blindness to river epilepsy: Implications for onchocerciasis elimination programmes

Authors

Affiliations

Conflict of interest statement

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