Toxoplasma, Toxocara, and epilepsy

The presence of positive antibody titres to Toxoplasma and Toxocara in an adult epileptic population has been examined in relation to other observations of aetiological importance. With Toxoplasma, and more particularly with Toxocara, a higher incidence of positive antibody titres was recorded than in nonepileptic populations. Comparison with previous studies in childhood epilepsy indicate that the incidence of positive titres increased with age throughout adult life. Despite attention to the age of onset of epilepsy, presumed aetiological factors, and electroencephalographic and clinical observations, no causal relationship between parasitic infection and the aetiology of epilepsy was established.