Nodding syndrome since 2012: recent progress, challenges and recommendations for future research

Colebunders, Robert; Post, R.J.; O‘Neill, Sarah; Haesaert, Geert; Opar, Bernard; Lakwo, Thomson; Laudisoit, Anne; Hendy, Adam

doi:10.1111/tmi.12421

Cited by 23 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…39 It also cannot be excluded that epilepsy in patients with O. volvulus infection can be induced by immunological mechanisms, 40,41 by extracerebral factors leading to a disturbance of the blood-brain barrier, 42 or by a, so far unidentified, coexisting neurotropic factor found connected with O. volvulus transmission. 36,43,44 In summary, this report provides strong evidence that NS exists beyond the so far known endemic areas in Tanzania, South Sudan, and northern Uganda. Neurological investigations focusing on detecting cases of NS in other onchocerciasis endemic areas would be helpful in confirming this finding.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Nodding Syndrome, Western Uganda, 1994

Kaiser¹,

Rubaale²,

Tukesiga³

et al. 2015

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. Nodding syndrome (NS) is a poorly understood condition, which was delineated in 2008 as a new epilepsy syndrome. So far, confirmed cases of NS have been observed in three circumscribed African areas: southern Tanzania, southern Sudan, and northern Uganda. Case-control studies have provided evidence of an association between NS and infection with Onchocerca volvulus, but the causation of NS is still not fully clarified. We report a case of a 15-year old boy with head nodding seizures and other characteristic features of NS from an onchocerciasis endemic area in western Uganda, with no contiguity to the hitherto known areas. We suggest that the existence of NS should be systematically investigated in other areas.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Nodding Syndrome, Western Uganda, 1994

Kaiser¹,

Rubaale²,

Tukesiga³

et al. 2015

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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“…sirbanum also breed along the Pager River northeast of Kitgum [43]. In addition, a member of the Simulium bovis species-group also forms a significant proportion of the anthropophilic blackfly population in the Mid-North [44]. Both S .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Esperanza Window Traps for the collection of anthropophilic blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Uganda and Tanzania

et al. 2017

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There is an increasing need to evaluate the impact of chemotherapeutic and vector-based interventions as onchocerciasis affected countries work towards eliminating the disease. The Esperanza Window Trap (EWT) provides a possible alternative to human landing collections (HLCs) for the collection of anthropophilic blackflies, yet it is not known whether current designs will prove effective for onchocerciasis vectors throughout sub-Saharan Africa. EWTs were deployed for 41 days in northern Uganda and south eastern Tanzania where different Simulium damnosum sibling species are responsible for disease transmission. The relative efficacy of EWTs and HLCs was compared, and responses of host-seeking blackflies to odour baits, colours, and yeast-produced CO2 were investigated. Blue EWTs baited with CO2 and worn socks collected 42.3% (2,393) of the total S. damnosum s.l. catch in northern Uganda. Numbers were comparable with those collected by HLCs (32.1%, 1,817), and higher than those collected on traps baited with CO2 and BG-Lure (25.6%, 1,446), a synthetic human attractant. Traps performed less well for the collection of S. damnosum s.l. in Tanzania where HLCs (72.5%, 2,432) consistently outperformed both blue (16.8%, 563) and black (10.7%, 360) traps baited with CO2 and worn socks. HLCs (72.3%, 361) also outperformed sock-baited (6.4%, 32) and BG-Lure-baited (21.2%, 106) traps for the collection of anthropophilic Simulium bovis in northern Uganda. Contrasting blackfly distributions were observed on traps in Uganda and Tanzania, indicating differences in behaviour in each area. The success of EWT collections of S. damnosum s.l. in northern Uganda was not replicated in Tanzania, or for the collection of anthropophilic S. bovis. Further research to improve the understanding of behavioural responses of vector sibling species to traps and their attractants should be encouraged.

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“…Onchocerciasis has also been suggested as causing nodding syndrome, an epileptic encephalopathy characterised by nodding of the head affecting mainly children in African regions endemic for onchocerciasis [31]. In several studies assessing the association with onchocerciasis, there is a trend towards higher positivity in cases than in controls [147] but this requires further investigations.…”

Section: Bacterial Infections As a Cause Of Epilepsymentioning

confidence: 99%

Infections, inflammation and epilepsy

et al. 2015

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Epilepsy is the tendency to have unprovoked epileptic seizures. Anything causing structural or functional derangement of brain physiology may lead to seizures, and different conditions may express themselves solely by recurrent seizures and thus be labelled "epilepsy." Worldwide, epilepsy is the most common serious neurological condition. The range of risk factors for the development of epilepsy varies with age and geographic location. Congenital, developmental and genetic conditions are mostly associated with the development of epilepsy in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. Head trauma, infections of the central nervous system (CNS) and tumours may occur at any age and may lead to the development of epilepsy. Infections of the CNS are a major risk factor for epilepsy. The reported risk of unprovoked seizures in populationbased cohorts of survivors of CNS infections from developed countries is between 6.8 and 8.3 %, and is much higher in resource-poor countries. In this review, the various viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infectious diseases of the CNS which result in seizures and epilepsy are discussed. The pathogenesis of epilepsy due to brain infections, as well as the role of experimental models to study mechanisms of epileptogenesis induced by infectious agents, is reviewed. The sterile (noninfectious) inflammatory response that occurs following brain insults is also discussed, as well as its overlap with inflammation due to infections, and the potential role in epileptogenesis. Furthermore, autoimmune encephalitis as a cause of seizures is reviewed. Potential strategies to prevent epilepsy resulting from brain infections and non-infectious inflammation are also considered.

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Nodding syndrome since 2012: recent progress, challenges and recommendations for future research

Cited by 23 publications

References 28 publications

Nodding Syndrome, Western Uganda, 1994

Nodding Syndrome, Western Uganda, 1994

Esperanza Window Traps for the collection of anthropophilic blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Uganda and Tanzania

Infections, inflammation and epilepsy

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