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Idro R, Ogwang R, Anguzu R, Akun P, Ningwa A, Abbo C, Giannoccaro MP, Kubofcik J, Mwaka AD, Nakamya P, Opar B, Taylor M, Nutman TB, Elliott A, Vincent A, Newton CR, Marsh K. Doxycycline for the treatment of nodding syndrome: a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet Glob Health 2024:S2214-109X(24)00102-5. [PMID: 38754459 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(24)00102-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nodding syndrome is a poorly understood neurological disorder that predominantly occurs in Africa. We hypothesised that nodding syndrome is a neuroinflammatory disorder, induced by antibodies to Onchocerca volvulus or its Wolbachia symbiont, cross-reacting with host neuronal proteins (HNPs), and that doxycycline can be used as treatment. METHODS In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial, we recruited participants from districts affected by nodding syndrome in northern Uganda. We included children and adolescents aged 8-18 years with nodding syndrome, as defined by WHO consensus criteria. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either 100 mg doxycycline daily or placebo for 6 weeks via a computer-generated schedule stratified by skin microscopy results, and all parties were masked to group assignment. Diagnoses of O volvulus and antibodies to HNPs were made using luciferase immunoprecipitation system assays and immunohistochemistry. The primary outcome was change in the proportion with antibodies to HNPs, assessed at 24 months. All participants were included in safety analyses, and surviving participants (those with samples at 24 months) were included in primary analyses. Secondary outcomes were: change in concentrations of antibodies to HNPs at 24 months compared with baseline; proportion of participants testing positive for antibodies to O volvulus-specific proteins and concentrations of Ov16 or OVOC3261 antibodies at 24 months compared with baseline; change in seizure burden, proportion achieving seizure freedom, and the proportions with interictal epileptiform discharges on the diagnostic EEG; overall quality of life; disease severity at 24 months; and incidence of all-cause adverse events, serious adverse events, and seizure-related mortality by 24 months. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02850913. FINDINGS Between Sept 1, 2016, and Aug 31, 2018, 329 children and adolescents were screened, of whom 240 were included in the study. 140 (58%) participants were boys and 100 (42%) were girls. 120 (50%) participants were allocated to receive doxycycline and 120 (50%) to receive placebo. At recruitment, the median duration of symptoms was 9 years (IQR 6-10); 232 (97%) participants had O volvulus-specific antibodies and 157 (65%) had autoantibodies to HNPs. The most common plasma autoantibodies were to human protein deglycase DJ-1 (85 [35%] participants) and leiomodin-1 (77 [32%] participants) and, in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), to human DJ-1 (27 [11%] participants) and leiomodin-1 (14 [6%] participants). On immunohistochemistry, 46 (19%) participants had CSF autoantibodies to HNPs, including leiomodin-1 (26 [11%]), γ-aminobutyric acid B receptors (two [<1%]), CASPR2 (one [<1%]), or unknown targets (28 [12%]). At 24 months, 161 (72%) of 225 participants had antibodies to HNPs compared with 157 (65%) of 240 at baseline. 6 weeks of doxycycline did not affect the concentration of autoantibodies to HNPs, seizure control, disease severity, or quality of life at the 24-month follow-up but substantially decreased Ov16 antibody concentrations; the median plasma signal-to-noise Ov16 ratio was 16·4 (95% CI 6·4-38·4), compared with 27·9 (8·2-65·8; p=0·033) for placebo. 14 (6%) participants died and, other than one traffic death, all deaths were seizure-related. Acute seizure-related hospitalisations (rate ratio [RR] 0·43 [95% CI 0·20-0·94], p=0·028) and deaths (RR 0·46 [0·24-0·89], p=0·028) were significantly lower in the doxycycline group. At 24 months, 96 (84%) of 114 participants who received doxycycline tested positive for antibodies to Ov16, compared with 97 (87%) of 111 on placebo (p=0·50), and 74 (65%) participants on doxycycline tested positive for antibodies to OVOC3261, compared with 57 (51%) on placebo (p=0·039). Doxycycline was safe; there was no difference in the incidence of grade 3-5 adverse events across the two groups. INTERPRETATION Nodding syndrome is strongly associated with O volvulus and the pathogenesis is probably mediated through an O volvulus induced autoantibody response to multiple proteins. Although it did not reverse disease symptoms, doxycycline or another prophylactic antibiotic could be considered as adjunct therapy to antiseizure medication, as it might reduce fatal complications from acute seizures and status epilepticus induced by febrile infections. FUNDING Medical Research Council (UK). TRANSLATION For the Luo translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Idro
- College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Centre for Tropical Neuroscience, Kampala, Uganda; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Rodney Ogwang
- College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Centre for Tropical Neuroscience, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ronald Anguzu
- College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Centre for Tropical Neuroscience, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Pamela Akun
- College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Centre for Tropical Neuroscience, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Albert Ningwa
- College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Centre for Tropical Neuroscience, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Catherine Abbo
- College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Maria P Giannoccaro
- Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, Bologna, Italy
| | - Joseph Kubofcik
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Amos D Mwaka
- College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Mark Taylor
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Thomas B Nutman
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alison Elliott
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Angela Vincent
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Charles R Newton
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kevin Marsh
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Olal E, Nantale R, Kitara DL. Nodding syndrome and doxycycline: promising findings with open questions. Lancet Glob Health 2024:S2214-109X(24)00182-7. [PMID: 38754458 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(24)00182-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Olal
- UMA Acholi Branch, Uganda Medical Association, Gulu, Uganda; Adroit Consult International, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ritah Nantale
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda
| | - David Lagoro Kitara
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda; UMA Acholi Branch, Uganda Medical Association, Gulu, Uganda; Gulu Centre for Advanced Medical Diagnostics, Research, Trainings, and Innovations (Grudi BioNTech Initiative), Gulu, Uganda.
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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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Van Cutsem G, Siewe Fodjo JN, Hadermann A, Amaral LJ, Trevisan C, Pion S, Colebunders R. Onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy: Charting a path forward. Seizure 2024:S1059-1311(24)00123-7. [PMID: 38677953 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2024.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
This narrative review intends to inform neurologists and public health professionals about Onchocerciasis-Associated Epilepsy (OAE), a neglected public health problem in many remote onchocerciasis-endemic areas. For epidemiological purposes, we define OAE as sudden-onset of convulsive and non-convulsive seizure types, including head nodding seizures (nodding syndrome) in a previously healthy child aged 3 to 18 years in the absence of any other obvious cause for epilepsy, all happening within an area with high ongoing Onchocerca volvulus transmission. Several OAE pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed, but none has been proven yet. Recent population-based studies showed that strengthening onchocerciasis elimination programs was followed by a significant reduction in the incidence of OAE and nodding syndrome. Treating epilepsy in onchocerciasis-endemic regions is challenging. More advocacy is needed to provide uninterrupted, free access to anti-seizure medication to persons with epilepsy in these remote, impoverished areas. It is crucial todevelop policies and increase funding for the prevention and treatment of OAE to reduce the associated burden of disease, notably via the establishment of morbidity management and disability prevention programs (MMDP). Moreover, effective collaboration between onchocerciasis elimination and mental health programs is imperative to alleviate the burden of OAE. This synergy promises reciprocal advantages and underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to address this multifaceted challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Van Cutsem
- Department of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - J N Siewe Fodjo
- Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - A Hadermann
- Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - L-J Amaral
- Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - C Trevisan
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - S Pion
- Institute of Research for Sustainable Development, Montpelier, France
| | - R Colebunders
- Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Metanmo S, Winkler AS. Response to "Nodding Syndrome Associated with Onchocerciasis". Neuroepidemiology 2024:1-4. [PMID: 38631300 DOI: 10.1159/000538697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Metanmo
- Inserm U1094, IRD U270, University of Limoges, CHU Limoges, EpiMaCT - Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases in Tropical Zone, Institute of Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology, Omega Health, Limoges, France
| | - Andrea Sylvia Winkler
- Department of Neurology, Center for Global Health, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Kegele J, Wagner T, Kowenski T, Wiesmayr M, Gatterer C, Alber M, Matuja W, Schmutzhard E, Lerche H, Winkler AS. Long-term clinical course and treatment outcomes of individuals with Nodding Syndrome. J Neurol Sci 2024; 457:122893. [PMID: 38278097 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2024.122893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Nodding Syndrome is a poorly understood epilepsy disorder in sub-Saharan Africa. The cause(s) of the disease, risk factors and long-term outcomes are unknown or controversial. The objectives of this study were to describe the long-term clinical course and treatment outcomes of individuals suffering from Nodding Syndrome. In addition, we aimed to provide a comprehensive characterization of the epileptological and social features of patients with Nodding Syndrome. From 11/2014 to 4/2015, we conducted a hospital-based, cross-sectional and observational study in Mahenge, Tanzania. Seventy-eight individuals (female:male ratio: 40:38, age at examination: 21.1 ± 6.39 (SD) years) have been enrolled, of whom 38 (49%) had also been examined in 2005 and in 2009. The 10-year clinical course analysis of this revisited subgroup revealed a calculated case fatality of 0.8-2.3%. Progressive physical or cognitive deterioration has not been observed in any of the 78 individuals and more than half of the people studied (38/69; 55%) managed to live and work independently. 14/78 individuals (18%) were seizure-free, (no head nodding, no other seizure types), 13 of whom were taking antiseizure medication. Phenytoin was more effective against head nodding seizures (14/19 (74%)) than monotherapy with other available antiseizure medication (phenobarbitone 12/25 (48%) and carbamazepine 7/22 (32%), p = 0.02, chi-square test). Our ten-year clinical outcome data show that Nodding Syndrome is not a fatal disease, however, the response to treatment is worse than in epilepsy patients in general. Phenytoin may be more effective than carbamazepine and phenobarbitone, but further studies are needed to confirm this observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josua Kegele
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute of Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler Straße 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
| | - Thomas Wagner
- Centre for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Teresa Kowenski
- Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Matthias Wiesmayr
- Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Michael Alber
- Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler Straße 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
| | - Wiliam Matuja
- Department of Neurology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Rd, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Erich Schmutzhard
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Holger Lerche
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute of Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler Straße 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
| | - Andrea S Winkler
- Department of Neurology, Center for Global Health, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3A, 0373 Oslo, Norway; Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Metanmo S, Dossa D, Ahmat DN, Winkler AS, Boumediene F. Mapping, Associated Factors, and Pathophysiology of Nodding Syndrome in Africa: A Systematic Review. Neuroepidemiology 2024; 58:92-119. [PMID: 38171341 DOI: 10.1159/000536013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Nodding syndrome (NS) remains a poorly understood disorder. For a long time, it has been thought to be restricted to East Africa; however, cases in Central Africa have been increasing over time. The objective of this systematic review (SR) was to provide a summary of the state of knowledge on NS to date. METHODS All original articles published on NS up to November 2021 were searched in four major databases and in the gray literature. Commentaries, editorials, book chapters, books, conference paper, qualitative studies that mentioned NS cases were also included. Data retrieved included study location (with GPS coordinates searched), year of study and publication, population characteristics, definition and diagnosis of NS, associated factors, and treatment if applicable. A meta-analysis of associated factors was performed where possible, and results were presented as odds ratios (ORs) and visualized as forest plots. Geographic information systems were used for cartographic representations. The quality of the articles included was assessed. RESULTS Of the 876 articles initially identified, 67 (corresponding to 59 studies) were included in the SR. NS is only present in Central and East Africa. Interestingly, there were reports of NS in Central Africa prior to 2010, earlier than previously thought. The way NS diagnosis was established varies according to studies, and the 2012 WHO classification was used in only 60% of the studies. Approximately 11% of the articles did not meet the quality requirements set for this review. In our meta-analysis, the main factor associated with NS was onchocerciasis (OR = 8.8 [4.8, 15.9]). However, the pathophysiology of the disease remains poorly understood. The lack of common anti-epileptic drugs is a significant barrier to the management of head nodding and associated epileptic seizures. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION The lack of an operational definition of NS is an obstacle to its diagnosis and, thus, to its appropriate treatment. Indeed, diagnostic difficulties might have led to false positives and false negatives which could have altered the picture of NS presented in this article. Treatment should take into account nutritional and psychological factors, as well as associated infections. Some risk factors deserve further investigation; therefore, we suggest a multicentric study with an etiological focus using a more operational definition of NS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Metanmo
- Inserm U1094, IRD U270, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, EpiMaCT - Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases in Tropical Zone, Institute of Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology, Omega Health, Limoges, France
| | - Djamirou Dossa
- Inserm U1094, IRD U270, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, EpiMaCT - Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases in Tropical Zone, Institute of Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology, Omega Health, Limoges, France
| | - Djibrine Nassir Ahmat
- Inserm U1094, IRD U270, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, EpiMaCT - Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases in Tropical Zone, Institute of Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology, Omega Health, Limoges, France
| | - Andrea Sylvia Winkler
- Department of Neurology, Center for Global Health, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Centre for Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Farid Boumediene
- Inserm U1094, IRD U270, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, EpiMaCT - Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases in Tropical Zone, Institute of Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology, Omega Health, Limoges, France,
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Kodja KG, Onzivua S, Kitara DL, Fong A, Kim P, Pollanen MS. Nodding syndrome is unlikely to be an autoimmune reaction to leiomodin-1 after infection by Onchocerca volvulus. Biochem Biophys Rep 2023; 35:101498. [PMID: 37601452 PMCID: PMC10439352 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2023.101498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Nodding syndrome is a neurological disease of children in northern Uganda. Infection with the nematode parasite Onchocerca volvulus has been epidemiologically implicated as the cause of the disease. It has been proposed that an autoantibody directed against the human protein leiomodin-1 cross reacts with a tropomyosin-like nematode protein, thus suggesting that nodding syndrome is an autoimmune brain disease due to extra-cerebral parasitism. This hypothesis is dependent on constitutive neuronal expression of leiomodin-1. We tested this hypothesis by studying the distribution of leiomodin-1 in the normal human brain and other human tissues using immunohistochemistry. We found that immunostaining for leiomodin-1 follows a smooth muscle cell specific pattern. In the brain, it is confined to the smooth muscle cells of cerebral blood vessels and is not generally present in neurons or glia. However, immunoreactivity was identified in human Purkinje cell membrane and the body wall of C. elegans (as a proxy for Onchocerca volvulus) but only when immunostained with an antibody recognizing the N-terminal of leiomodin-1. Homology between leiomodin-1 and tropomodulin, specifically at the N-terminus, could explain why leiomodin-1 antibody cross reactivity between human Purkinje cells and C. elegans. However, we cannot provide proof confirming that the immunoreactivity in the membranes of Purkinje cells is specifically caused by the expression of tropomodulin. To overcome this limitation, further investigations using additional immunohistochemical and biochemical studies are required to corroborate our findings and provide more comprehensive evidence. Nevertheless, our findings do not support to the autoimmunity hypothesis involving Onchocerca volvulus and leiomodin-1. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the cause and pathogenesis of NS, it is essential to explore alternative hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth G. Kodja
- Department of Pathobiology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sylvester Onzivua
- Department of Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Amanda Fong
- Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick Kim
- Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael S. Pollanen
- Department of Pathobiology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Spencer PS. New clues to the elusive aetiology of nodding syndrome. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad236. [PMID: 37731902 PMCID: PMC10507742 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Nodding syndrome is a paediatric epileptic encephalopathy of unknown aetiology that affects children in impoverished communities of Eastern Africa subject to internal displacement. Set in southcentral South Sudan, where nodding syndrome first surfaced circa 1990, an important new study of recent-onset cases of nodding syndrome examined parasitic, bacterial, viral, immune-mediated, metabolic and nutritional factors associated with the brain disease. Infection with the nematode Mansonella perstans, but not with Onchocerca volvulus, was the most prominent finding in nodding syndrome cases versus controls. While M. perstans is unlikely to be causal of nodding syndrome, investigation of the freshwater habitats, where insect-to-human transmission of the filarial larvae takes place, may reveal a clue as to the aetiology of this neurodegenerative disease. The culpable environmental agent(s) must be able to induce neuroinflammation and tau pathology preferentially in infants and children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter S Spencer
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
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Edridge AWD, Abd-Elfarag G, Deijs M, Broeks MH, Cristella C, Sie B, Vaz FM, Jans JJM, Calis J, Verhoef H, Demir A, Poppert S, Nickel B, van Dam A, Sebit B, Titulaer MJ, Verweij JJ, de Jong MD, van Gool T, Faragher B, Verhoeven-Duif NM, Elledge SJ, van der Hoek L, Boele van Hensbroek M. Parasitic, bacterial, viral, immune-mediated, metabolic and nutritional factors associated with nodding syndrome. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad223. [PMID: 37731906 PMCID: PMC10507744 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Nodding syndrome is a neglected, disabling and potentially fatal epileptic disorder of unknown aetiology affecting thousands of individuals mostly confined to Eastern sub-Saharan Africa. Previous studies have identified multiple associations-including Onchocerca volvulus, antileiomodin-1 antibodies, vitamin B6 deficiency and measles virus infection-yet, none is proven causal. We conducted a case-control study of children with early-stage nodding syndrome (symptom onset <1 year). Cases and controls were identified through a household survey in the Greater Mundri area in South Sudan. A wide range of parasitic, bacterial, viral, immune-mediated, metabolic and nutritional risk factors was investigated using conventional and state-of-the-art untargeted assays. Associations were examined by multiple logistic regression analysis, and a hypothetical causal model was constructed using structural equation modelling. Of 607 children with nodding syndrome, 72 with early-stage disease were included as cases and matched to 65 household- and 44 community controls. Mansonella perstans infection (odds ratio 7.04, 95% confidence interval 2.28-21.7), Necator americanus infection (odds ratio 2.33, 95% confidence interval 1.02-5.3), higher antimalarial seroreactivity (odds ratio 1.75, 95% confidence interval 1.20-2.57), higher vitamin E concentration (odds ratio 1.53 per standard deviation increase, 95% confidence interval 1.07-2.19) and lower vitamin B12 concentration (odds ratio 0.56 per standard deviation increase, 95% confidence interval 0.36-0.87) were associated with higher odds of nodding syndrome. In a structural equation model, we hypothesized that Mansonella perstans infection, higher vitamin E concentration and fewer viral exposures increased the risk of nodding syndrome while lower vitamin B12 concentration, Necator americanus and malaria infections resulted from having nodding syndrome. We found no evidence that Onchocerca volvulus, antileiomodin-1 antibodies, vitamin B6 and other factors were associated with nodding syndrome. Our results argue against several previous causal hypotheses including Onchocerca volvulus. Instead, nodding syndrome may be caused by a complex interplay between multiple pathogens and nutrient levels. Further studies need to confirm these associations and determine the direction of effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur W D Edridge
- Amsterdam Centre for Global Child Health, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gasim Abd-Elfarag
- Amsterdam Centre for Global Child Health, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology & Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Juba, P.O. Box 82, Juba, South Sudan
| | - Martin Deijs
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Melissa H Broeks
- Department of Genetics, Section Metabolic Diagnostics, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Cosimo Cristella
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Brandon Sie
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Frédéric M Vaz
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Judith J M Jans
- Department of Genetics, Section Metabolic Diagnostics, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Job Calis
- Amsterdam Centre for Global Child Health, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 95, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Hans Verhoef
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, 6701 AR Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ayse Demir
- Laboratory for Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Meander Medical Centre, 3813 TZ Amersfoort, The Netherlands
| | - Sven Poppert
- Diagnostic Centre, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Beatrice Nickel
- Diagnostic Centre, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alje van Dam
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Boy Sebit
- Department of Neurology & Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Juba, P.O. Box 82, Juba, South Sudan
| | - Maarten J Titulaer
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jaco J Verweij
- Microvida Laboratory for Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital, 5022 GC Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Menno D de Jong
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tom van Gool
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Brian Faragher
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Nanda M Verhoeven-Duif
- Department of Genetics, Section Metabolic Diagnostics, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Stephen J Elledge
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lia van der Hoek
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Boele van Hensbroek
- Amsterdam Centre for Global Child Health, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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11
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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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12
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Pollanen MS, Onzivua S. The tau hypothesis of nodding syndrome in Africa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011526. [PMID: 37590172 PMCID: PMC10434949 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michael S. Pollanen
- Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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13
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Edridge A, Namazzi R, Tebulo A, Mfizi A, Deijs M, Koekkoek S, de Wever B, van der Ende A, Umiwana J, de Jong MD, Jans J, Verhoeven-Duif N, Titulaer M, van Karnebeek C, Seydel K, Taylor T, Asiimwe-Kateera B, van der Hoek L, Kabayiza JC, Mallewa M, Idro R, Boele van Hensbroek M, van Woensel JBM. Viral, Bacterial, Metabolic, and Autoimmune Causes of Severe Acute Encephalopathy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Multicenter Cohort Study. J Pediatr 2023; 258:113360. [PMID: 36828342 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess whether viral, bacterial, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases are missed by conventional diagnostics among children with severe acute encephalopathy in sub-Saharan Africa. STUDY DESIGN One hundred thirty-four children (6 months to 18 years) presenting with nontraumatic coma or convulsive status epilepticus to 1 of 4 medical referral centers in Uganda, Malawi, and Rwanda were enrolled between 2015 and 2016. Locally available diagnostic tests could be supplemented in 117 patients by viral, bacterial, and 16s quantitative polymerase chain reaction testing, metagenomics, untargeted metabolomics, and autoimmune immunohistochemistry screening. RESULTS Fourteen (12%) cases of viral encephalopathies, 8 (7%) cases of bacterial central nervous system (CNS) infections, and 4 (4%) cases of inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs) were newly identified by additional diagnostic testing as the most likely cause of encephalopathy. No confirmed cases of autoimmune encephalitis were found. Patients for whom additional diagnostic testing aided causal evaluation (aOR 3.59, 90% CI 1.57-8.36), patients with a viral CNS infection (aOR 7.91, 90% CI 2.49-30.07), and patients with an IMD (aOR 9.10, 90% CI 1.37-110.45) were at increased risk for poor outcome of disease. CONCLUSIONS Viral and bacterial CNS infections and IMDs are prevalent causes of severe acute encephalopathy in children in Uganda, Malawi, and Rwanda that are missed by conventional diagnostics and are associated with poor outcome of disease. Improved diagnostic capacity may increase diagnostic yield and might improve outcome of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Edridge
- Amsterdam Centre for Global Child Health, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Ruth Namazzi
- Department of Paediatrics, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Andrew Tebulo
- Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Anan Mfizi
- Department of Paediatrics, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Martin Deijs
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sylvie Koekkoek
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bob de Wever
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arie van der Ende
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeanine Umiwana
- Department of Paediatrics, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Menno D de Jong
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Judith Jans
- Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Clara van Karnebeek
- Departments of Pediatrics and Human Genetics, Emma Center for Personalized Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Karl Seydel
- Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi; Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
| | - Terrie Taylor
- Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi; Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
| | | | - Lia van der Hoek
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Claude Kabayiza
- Department of Paediatrics, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Macpherson Mallewa
- Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Richard Idro
- Department of Paediatrics, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Michael Boele van Hensbroek
- Amsterdam Centre for Global Child Health, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Job B M van Woensel
- Amsterdam Centre for Global Child Health, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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14
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Miyauchi Y, Shiraishi A, Abe K, Sato Y, Kita K. Excitatory amino acids, possible causative agents of nodding syndrome in eastern Africa. Trop Med Health 2023; 51:30. [PMID: 37202788 DOI: 10.1186/s41182-023-00520-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nodding syndrome (NS) is one type of epilepsy and a progressive disease characterized by nodding symptoms with children in sub-Saharan Africa. The burden for NS children is heavy, not only mentally but financially for themselves and their families, and yet, the cause and cure of NS remain unknown. The kainic acid-induced model in experimental animals is a well-known epilepsy model that is useful for studying human diseases. In this study, we examined similarities of clinical symptoms and histological brain changes between NS patients and kainic acid-treated rats. In addition, we argued for kainic acid agonist as one of the causes of NS. METHODS Clinical signs in rats were studied after kainic acid administration, and histological lesions including the expression of tau protein and gliosis, were examined at 24 h, 8 days, and 28 days after dosing. RESULTS Kainic acid-induced epileptic symptoms were observed in rats, including nodding accompanied by drooling and bilateral neuronal cell death in the hippocampus and piriform cortex regions. In the regions that exhibited neuronal cell death, an increase in tau protein expression and gliosis were found immunohistochemically. The symptoms and brain histology were similar in the NS and kainic acid-induced rat models. CONCLUSION The results suggest that kainic acid agonist may be one of the causative substances for NS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasushi Miyauchi
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
- Department of Bio Research, Kamakura Techno-Science, Inc., Kamakura, Kanagawa, 248-0036, Japan.
| | - Ayaka Shiraishi
- Department of Bio Research, Kamakura Techno-Science, Inc., Kamakura, Kanagawa, 248-0036, Japan
| | - Konami Abe
- Department of Bio Research, Kamakura Techno-Science, Inc., Kamakura, Kanagawa, 248-0036, Japan
| | - Yasuaki Sato
- School of Global Humanities and Social Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8521, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Kita
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
- Department of Host-Defense Biochemistry, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
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15
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Hadermann A, Amaral LJ, Van Cutsem G, Siewe Fodjo JN, Colebunders R. Onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy: an update and future perspectives. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:126-138. [PMID: 36528471 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE) is an important neglected public health problem in areas with high ongoing onchocerciasis transmission. The risk that children in such areas develop epilepsy is related to their Onchocerca volvulus microfilarial (mf) load. Before the implementation of mass treatment with ivermectin, microfilariae were detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). More recently, neither O. volvulus microfilariae nor DNA were detected in CSF or brain tissue; however, these samples were obtained years after seizure onset. It is possible that during fever-induced increased blood-brain barrier permeability, microfilariae enter the brain and, upon dying, cause an inflammatory reaction inducing seizures. Including OAE in the onchocerciasis disease burden estimation may mobilise extra resources for onchocerciasis disease elimination and treatment/care of OAE-affected persons/families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber Hadermann
- Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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16
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Mazumder R, Lubowa SK, Salamon N, Jackson NJ, Kawooya M, Akun PR, Anguzu R, Ogwang RJ, Kubofcik J, Nutman T, Marsh K, Newton C, Vincent A, Idro R. Comparison of Structural Changes in Nodding Syndrome and Other Epilepsies Associated With Onchocerca volvulus. NEUROLOGY(R) NEUROIMMUNOLOGY & NEUROINFLAMMATION 2022; 10:10/2/e200074. [PMID: 36543539 PMCID: PMC9773419 DOI: 10.1212/nxi.0000000000200074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Nodding syndrome (NS) is a unique childhood-onset epileptic disorder that occurs predominantly in several regions of sub-Saharan Africa. The disease has been associated with Onchocerca volvulus (Ov)-induced immune responses and possible cross-reactivity with host proteins. The aim of this study was to compare structural changes in the brain on MRI between NS and other forms of onchocerciasis-associated epilepsies (OAEs) and to relate structural changes to the Ov-induced immune responses and level of disability. METHODS Thirty-nine children with NS and 14 age-matched participants with other forms of OAE from an endemic region in Uganda underwent detailed clinical examination, serologic evaluation (including Ov-associated antibodies to Ov-16 and Hu-leiomodin-1) and quantitative volumetric analysis of brain MRIs (1.5 T scanner) using Neuroreader, a cloud-based software. RESULTS Cerebral and cerebellar atrophy were the predominant features in both NS and OAE. On quantitative volumetric analysis, participants with NS had larger ventricular volumes compared with participants with OAE, indicative of increased global cortical atrophy (pcorr = 0.036). Among children with NS, severe disability correlated with higher degree of atrophy in the gray matter volume (pcorr = 0.009) and cerebellar volume (pcorr = 0.009). NS cases had lower anti-Ov-16 IgG signal-to-noise ratios than the OAE cases (p < 0.01), but no difference in the levels of the Hu-leiomodin-1 antibodies (p = 0.64). The levels of Ov-associated antibodies did not relate to the degree of cerebral or cerebellar atrophy in either NS or OAE cases. DISCUSSION This is the first study to show that cerebral and cerebellar atrophy correlated with the severity of NS disability, providing an imaging marker for these endemic epileptic disorders that until now have remained poorly characterized. Both NS and OAE have cerebral and cerebellar atrophy, and the levels of Ov-associated antibodies do not seem to be related to the structural changes on MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajarshi Mazumder
- From the Department of Neurology (R.M.), David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles; Kampala MRI Centre (S.K.L., M.K.), Uganda; Department of Radiological Sciences (N.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, CA; Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (N.J.J.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Centre of Tropical Neuroscience (P.R.A., R.A., R.I.), Kitgum Site, Uganda; Makerere University (R.A., R.J.O., R.I.), College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (J.K., T.N.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (K.M., R.I.), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry (C.N.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom; and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (A.V.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Samson Kamya Lubowa
- From the Department of Neurology (R.M.), David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles; Kampala MRI Centre (S.K.L., M.K.), Uganda; Department of Radiological Sciences (N.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, CA; Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (N.J.J.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Centre of Tropical Neuroscience (P.R.A., R.A., R.I.), Kitgum Site, Uganda; Makerere University (R.A., R.J.O., R.I.), College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (J.K., T.N.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (K.M., R.I.), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry (C.N.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom; and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (A.V.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Noriko Salamon
- From the Department of Neurology (R.M.), David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles; Kampala MRI Centre (S.K.L., M.K.), Uganda; Department of Radiological Sciences (N.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, CA; Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (N.J.J.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Centre of Tropical Neuroscience (P.R.A., R.A., R.I.), Kitgum Site, Uganda; Makerere University (R.A., R.J.O., R.I.), College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (J.K., T.N.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (K.M., R.I.), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry (C.N.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom; and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (A.V.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J Jackson
- From the Department of Neurology (R.M.), David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles; Kampala MRI Centre (S.K.L., M.K.), Uganda; Department of Radiological Sciences (N.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, CA; Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (N.J.J.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Centre of Tropical Neuroscience (P.R.A., R.A., R.I.), Kitgum Site, Uganda; Makerere University (R.A., R.J.O., R.I.), College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (J.K., T.N.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (K.M., R.I.), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry (C.N.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom; and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (A.V.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Kawooya
- From the Department of Neurology (R.M.), David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles; Kampala MRI Centre (S.K.L., M.K.), Uganda; Department of Radiological Sciences (N.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, CA; Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (N.J.J.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Centre of Tropical Neuroscience (P.R.A., R.A., R.I.), Kitgum Site, Uganda; Makerere University (R.A., R.J.O., R.I.), College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (J.K., T.N.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (K.M., R.I.), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry (C.N.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom; and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (A.V.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Pamela Rosemary Akun
- From the Department of Neurology (R.M.), David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles; Kampala MRI Centre (S.K.L., M.K.), Uganda; Department of Radiological Sciences (N.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, CA; Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (N.J.J.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Centre of Tropical Neuroscience (P.R.A., R.A., R.I.), Kitgum Site, Uganda; Makerere University (R.A., R.J.O., R.I.), College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (J.K., T.N.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (K.M., R.I.), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry (C.N.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom; and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (A.V.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ronald Anguzu
- From the Department of Neurology (R.M.), David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles; Kampala MRI Centre (S.K.L., M.K.), Uganda; Department of Radiological Sciences (N.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, CA; Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (N.J.J.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Centre of Tropical Neuroscience (P.R.A., R.A., R.I.), Kitgum Site, Uganda; Makerere University (R.A., R.J.O., R.I.), College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (J.K., T.N.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (K.M., R.I.), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry (C.N.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom; and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (A.V.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rodney J Ogwang
- From the Department of Neurology (R.M.), David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles; Kampala MRI Centre (S.K.L., M.K.), Uganda; Department of Radiological Sciences (N.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, CA; Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (N.J.J.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Centre of Tropical Neuroscience (P.R.A., R.A., R.I.), Kitgum Site, Uganda; Makerere University (R.A., R.J.O., R.I.), College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (J.K., T.N.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (K.M., R.I.), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry (C.N.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom; and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (A.V.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph Kubofcik
- From the Department of Neurology (R.M.), David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles; Kampala MRI Centre (S.K.L., M.K.), Uganda; Department of Radiological Sciences (N.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, CA; Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (N.J.J.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Centre of Tropical Neuroscience (P.R.A., R.A., R.I.), Kitgum Site, Uganda; Makerere University (R.A., R.J.O., R.I.), College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (J.K., T.N.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (K.M., R.I.), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry (C.N.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom; and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (A.V.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Nutman
- From the Department of Neurology (R.M.), David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles; Kampala MRI Centre (S.K.L., M.K.), Uganda; Department of Radiological Sciences (N.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, CA; Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (N.J.J.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Centre of Tropical Neuroscience (P.R.A., R.A., R.I.), Kitgum Site, Uganda; Makerere University (R.A., R.J.O., R.I.), College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (J.K., T.N.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (K.M., R.I.), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry (C.N.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom; and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (A.V.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Marsh
- From the Department of Neurology (R.M.), David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles; Kampala MRI Centre (S.K.L., M.K.), Uganda; Department of Radiological Sciences (N.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, CA; Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (N.J.J.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Centre of Tropical Neuroscience (P.R.A., R.A., R.I.), Kitgum Site, Uganda; Makerere University (R.A., R.J.O., R.I.), College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (J.K., T.N.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (K.M., R.I.), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry (C.N.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom; and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (A.V.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Charles Newton
- From the Department of Neurology (R.M.), David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles; Kampala MRI Centre (S.K.L., M.K.), Uganda; Department of Radiological Sciences (N.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, CA; Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (N.J.J.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Centre of Tropical Neuroscience (P.R.A., R.A., R.I.), Kitgum Site, Uganda; Makerere University (R.A., R.J.O., R.I.), College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (J.K., T.N.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (K.M., R.I.), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry (C.N.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom; and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (A.V.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Vincent
- From the Department of Neurology (R.M.), David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles; Kampala MRI Centre (S.K.L., M.K.), Uganda; Department of Radiological Sciences (N.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, CA; Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (N.J.J.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Centre of Tropical Neuroscience (P.R.A., R.A., R.I.), Kitgum Site, Uganda; Makerere University (R.A., R.J.O., R.I.), College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (J.K., T.N.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (K.M., R.I.), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry (C.N.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom; and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (A.V.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Idro
- From the Department of Neurology (R.M.), David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles; Kampala MRI Centre (S.K.L., M.K.), Uganda; Department of Radiological Sciences (N.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, CA; Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (N.J.J.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Centre of Tropical Neuroscience (P.R.A., R.A., R.I.), Kitgum Site, Uganda; Makerere University (R.A., R.J.O., R.I.), College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (J.K., T.N.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (K.M., R.I.), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry (C.N.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom; and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (A.V.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
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17
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Spencer P, Okot C, Palmer V, Valdes Angues R, Mazumder R. Nodding syndrome: A key role for sources of nutrition? eNeurologicalSci 2022; 27:100401. [PMID: 35480298 PMCID: PMC9035392 DOI: 10.1016/j.ensci.2022.100401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nodding Syndrome (NS) has occurred among severely food-stressed communities in northern Uganda and several other East African populations that, with their forced physical displacement, have resorted to nutritional support from available wild plants and fungi, some of which have neurotoxic potential. Among the latter is an agaric mushroom with an unknown content of hydrazine-generating agaritine, namely Agaricus bingensis, the unusually wide consumption of which may relate to the low serum levels of vitamin B6 in Ugandan NS subjects relative to controls. Hydrazine-related compounds induce patterns of DNA damage that promote neuropathological changes (tauopathy) reminiscent of those associated with established NS. While the cause of this childhood brain disease is unknown, we encourage increased attention to the role of malnutrition and B6 hypovitaminosis in the etiology of this devastating brain disease. Idiopathic epileptic encephalopathy with tauopathy (Nodding syndrome) impacts East African children Associated factors include nematode infection, food insecurity, and food use of wild plants and fungi Food use of hydrazinic fungi induces B6 hypovitaminosis, which may be marked in Nodding syndrome Vitamin B6 deficiency promotes tau phosphorylation in mouse models of human tauopathy Hydrazine generates carbon free radicals associated with DNA-damage and neurodegenerative disease Increased research attention to nutritional practices associated with Nodding syndrome is merited.
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Affiliation(s)
- P.S. Spencer
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Corresponding author at: Oregon Health & Science University (Neurology), S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
| | | | - V.S. Palmer
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - R. Valdes Angues
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - R. Mazumder
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, USA
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18
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Pollanen MS, Onzivua S, McKeever PM, Robertson J, Mackenzie IR, Kovacs GG, Olwa F, Kitara DL, Fong A. The spectrum of disease and tau pathology of nodding syndrome in Uganda. Brain 2022; 146:954-967. [PMID: 35411378 PMCID: PMC9976958 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nodding syndrome is an enigmatic recurrent epidemic neurologic disease that affects children in East Africa. The illness begins with vertical nodding of the head and can progress to grand mal seizures and death after several years. The most recent outbreak of nodding syndrome occurred in northern Uganda. We now describe the clinicopathologic spectrum of nodding syndrome in northern Uganda. The neuropathologic findings of 16 children or young adults with fatal nodding syndrome were correlated with the onset, duration and progression of their neurological illness. The affected individuals ranged in age from 14 to 25 years at the time of death with a duration of illness ranging from 6-15 years. All 16 cases had chronic seizures. In 10 cases, detailed clinical histories were available and showed that three individuals had a clinical course that was predominantly characterized by epilepsy, whereas the other seven individuals had progressive cognitive, behavioural and motor decline, in addition to epilepsy. The main neuropathologic findings included: tau pathology (16/16 cases), cerebellar degeneration (11/16 cases) and white matter degeneration (7/16 cases). The tau pathology was characterized by filamentous tau-positive deposits in the form of neurofibrillary tangles, pre-tangles and dot-like grains and threads in the neuropil. All cases showed some degree of tau pathology in the neocortex and in the locus coeruleus with frequent involvement of the substantia nigra and tegmental nuclei and lesser involvement of other grey matter sites, but there was a lack of glial tau pathology. The tau pathology in the neocortex showed a multifocal superficial laminar pattern. We conclude that nodding syndrome is a clinicopathological entity associated consistently with tau pathology, but our observations did not establish the cause of the disease, or an explanation for the tau pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Pollanen
- Correspondence to: Michael S. Pollanen 135 Nassau Street, K6D-448, Toronto Ontario Canada M5T 1M8 E-mail:
| | - Sylvester Onzivua
- Department of Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala PO 7072, East Africa
| | - Paul M McKeever
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Janice Robertson
- Department of Pathobiology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada,Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Ian R Mackenzie
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z7, Canada
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Department of Pathobiology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada,Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada,Laboratory Medicine Program and Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Francis Olwa
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda PO 166, East Africa
| | - David L Kitara
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda PO 166, East Africa
| | - Amanda Fong
- Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, Toronto, Ontario M3M 0B1, Canada
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19
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Idro R, Ogwang R, Barragan A, Raimondo JV, Masocha W. Neuroimmunology of Common Parasitic Infections in Africa. Front Immunol 2022; 13:791488. [PMID: 35222377 PMCID: PMC8866860 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.791488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic infections of the central nervous system are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa. The neurological, cognitive, and psychiatric sequelae of these infections result from a complex interplay between the parasites and the host inflammatory response. Here we review some of the diseases caused by selected parasitic organisms known to infect the nervous system including Plasmodium falciparum, Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma brucei spp., and Taenia solium species. For each parasite, we describe the geographical distribution, prevalence, life cycle, and typical clinical symptoms of infection and pathogenesis. We pay particular attention to how the parasites infect the brain and the interaction between each organism and the host immune system. We describe how an understanding of these processes may guide optimal diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to treat these disorders. Finally, we highlight current gaps in our understanding of disease pathophysiology and call for increased interrogation of these often-neglected disorders of the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Idro
- College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.,Centre of Tropical Neuroscience, Kitgum, Uganda.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rodney Ogwang
- College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.,Centre of Tropical Neuroscience, Kitgum, Uganda.,Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) - Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Antonio Barragan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joseph Valentino Raimondo
- Division of Cell Biology, Department of Human Biology, Neuroscience Institute and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Willias Masocha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
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20
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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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