Asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia and seizure control in children with nodding syndrome; a cross-sectional study

Ogwang, Rodney; Anguzu, Ronald; Akun, Pamela; Ningwa, Albert; Kayongo, Edward; Marsh, Kevin; Newton, Charles R.; Idro, Richard

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023624

Cited by 9 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Similar conclusions were drawn from community studies in Cameroon 45,46 . More recent reports have highlighted the correlation of malaria with disease expression and outcome in children with nodding syndrome 2,47 . This led to promotion of intervention with doxycycline to eradicate or prevent malaria in children with nodding syndrome 47,48 .…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 63%

Epilepsy research in Africa: A scoping review by the ILAE Pediatric Commission Research Advocacy Task Force

et al. 2022

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Objective Despite the high prevalence of epilepsy in Africa, evaluation of epilepsy research trends on the continent is lacking. Without establishing effective research, improvement in care for people with epilepsy cannot be effectively strategized or targeted. Methods A scoping review of the peer‐reviewed literature on epilepsy from Africa (1989–2019) was conducted. The aim was to understand from this what areas are well researched versus underresearched based on published epilepsy topics. Results A total of 1227 publications were identified and assessed. A significant increase in publications occurred over the 30 years assessed. African author leadership was evident in most reports. Nine countries had >50 publications identified; the remaining 45 countries had <50 or no publications. Research studies were typically of lower quality (case series and observational studies). Research themes were more focused on clinical epilepsy (descriptive observational studies) and social aspects (qualitative surveys). However, there were a number of unique and strong themes, specifically for neurocysticercosis and nodding syndrome, where strong research collaborations were evident, basic science understandings were explored, and interventional models were established. Significance Despite Africa being the continent with the most countries, it is lacking in the quantity, quality, and for some areas, relevance of research on epilepsy. Targeted approaches are needed to upskill the strength of research undertaken with more basic science, interventional, and randomized controlled studies. Themes of research need to promote those with unique African content but also to align with current international research areas that have impact on care delivery, such as epilepsy surgery and epilepsy genetics. For this to be possible, it is important to strengthen research hubs with collaborations that empower Africa to own its epilepsy research journey.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 63%

Epilepsy research in Africa: A scoping review by the ILAE Pediatric Commission Research Advocacy Task Force

et al. 2022

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“…Having said that, a kaleidoscope of studies over the years revealed various potential causes, features and/or associations of NS with infections, environmental factors, psychological/psychiatric factors, neurodegeneration, and autoimmunity affecting the central nervous system (CNS) [ 1 , 5 , 9 , 11 – 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protection or susceptibility to devastating childhood epilepsy: Nodding Syndrome associates with immunogenetic fingerprints in the HLA binding groove

Benedek¹,

Latif²,

Miller³

et al. 2020

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

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Nodding syndrome (NS) is a devastating and enigmatic childhood epilepsy. NS is accompanied by multiple neurological impairments and neuroinflammation, and associated with the parasite Onchocerca volvulus (Ov) and other environmental factors. Moreover, NS seems to be an 'Autoimmune Epilepsy' since: 1.~50% of NS patients have neurotoxic cross-reactive Ov/Leimodin-I autoimmune antibodies. 2. Our recently published findings: Most (~86%) of NS patients have glutamate-receptor AMPA-GluR3B peptide autoimmune antibodies that bind, induce Reactive Oxygen Species, and kill both neural cells and T cells. Furthermore, NS patient's IgG induce seizures, brain multiple damage alike occurring in brains of NS patients, and elevation of T cells and activated microglia and astrocytes, in brains of normal mice. Human Leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II molecules are critical for initiating effective beneficial immunity against foreign microorganisms and contributing to proper brain function, but also predispose to detrimental autoimmunity against self-peptides. We analyzed seven HLA loci, either by next-generation-sequencing or Sequence-Specific-Oligonucleotide-Probe, in 48 NS patients and 51 healthy controls from South Sudan. We discovered that NS associates significantly with both protective HLA haplotype: HLA-B*42:01, C*17:01, DRB1*03:02, DQB1*04:02 and DQA1*04:01, and susceptible motif: Ala24, Glu63 and Phe67, in the HLA-B peptide-binding groove. These amino acids create a hydrophobic and sterically closed peptide-binding HLA pocket, favoring proline residue. Our findings suggest that immunogenetic fingerprints in HLA peptide-binding grooves tentatively associate with protection or susceptibility to NS. Accordingly, different HLA molecules may explain why under similar environmental factors, only some children, within the same families, tribes and districts, develop NS, while others do not.

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“…For the present analysis, 150 samples were available of 154 recruited in the parent study. This area is located in northern Uganda bordering South Sudan and is inhabited by the Acholi people [ 22 ]. The primary economic activity is subsistence farming complemented with small-scale animal husbandry.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Anopheles gambiae D7 salivary proteins as markers of human–mosquito bite contact

et al. 2022

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Background Malaria is transmitted when infected Anopheles mosquitoes take a blood meal. During this process, the mosquitoes inject a cocktail of bioactive proteins that elicit antibody responses in humans and could be used as biomarkers of exposure to mosquito bites. This study evaluated the utility of IgG responses to members of the Anopheles gambiae D7 protein family as serological markers of human–vector contact. Methods The D7L2, D7r1, D7r2, D7r3, D7r4 and SG6 salivary proteins from An. gambiae were expressed as recombinant antigens in Escherichia coli. Antibody responses to the salivary proteins were compared in Europeans with no prior exposure to malaria and lifelong residents of Junju in Kenya and Kitgum in Uganda where the intensity of malaria transmission is moderate and high, respectively. In addition, to evaluate the feasibility of using anti-D7 IgG responses as a tool to evaluate the impact of vector control interventions, we compared responses between individuals using insecticide-treated bednets to those who did not in Junju, Kenya where bednet data were available. Results We show that both the long and short forms of the D7 salivary gland antigens elicit a strong antibody response in humans. IgG responses against the D7 antigens reflected the transmission intensities of the three study areas, with the highest to lowest responses observed in Kitgum (northern Uganda), Junju (Kenya) and malaria-naïve Europeans, respectively. Specifically, the long form D7L2 induced an IgG antibody response that increased with age and that was lower in individuals who slept under a bednet, indicating its potential as a serological tool for estimating human–vector contact and monitoring the effectiveness of vector control interventions. Conclusions This study reveals that D7L2 salivary antigen has great potential as a biomarker of exposure to mosquito bites and as a tool for assessing the efficacy of vector control strategies such as bednet use. Graphical abstract

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Asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia and seizure control in children with nodding syndrome; a cross-sectional study

Cited by 9 publications

References 30 publications

Epilepsy research in Africa: A scoping review by the ILAE Pediatric Commission Research Advocacy Task Force

Epilepsy research in Africa: A scoping review by the ILAE Pediatric Commission Research Advocacy Task Force

Protection or susceptibility to devastating childhood epilepsy: Nodding Syndrome associates with immunogenetic fingerprints in the HLA binding groove

Characterization of Anopheles gambiae D7 salivary proteins as markers of human–mosquito bite contact

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