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Published on: June 23, 2022
Epilepsy and toxocariasis: a case-control study in Burundi
Alessandra Nicoletti1, Alessandro Bartoloni, Vito Sofia
1Department of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Italy. anicolet@unict.it
Epilepsia
|May 19, 2007
Summary
Toxocariasis, an infection from the roundworm Toxocara canis, is significantly associated with epilepsy. This finding suggests toxocariasis may contribute to the high burden of epilepsy in tropical regions.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
Background:
- Epilepsy is a significant global health concern, particularly in tropical areas.
- Toxocariasis, caused by the parasitic roundworm Toxocara canis, is a neglected tropical disease with potential neurological implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between toxocariasis and epilepsy in the Kiremba population, Burundi.
- To determine if T. canis infection is a risk factor for developing epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- A matched case-control study design was employed.
- Participants were diagnosed with epilepsy according to International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) criteria.
- Serological testing for antibodies against T. canis was performed using an immunoblotting assay, with data analyzed using conditional logistic regression.
Main Results:
- A total of 191 people with epilepsy and 191 age-matched controls were included.
- Antibodies against T. canis were detected in 59.7% of people with epilepsy and 50.8% of controls.
- A significant association was found between T. canis positivity and epilepsy (adjusted OR = 2.13, p=0.01).
Conclusions:
- Toxocariasis is significantly associated with epilepsy in the studied population.
- The findings suggest that toxocariasis may increase the risk of epilepsy development in endemic areas.
- Toxocariasis could be a contributing factor to the high prevalence of epilepsy in tropical regions.
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