Low prevalence of epilepsy and onchocerciasis after more than 20 years of ivermectin treatment in the Imo River Basin in Nigeria.


Journal

Infectious diseases of poverty
ISSN: 2049-9957
Titre abrégé: Infect Dis Poverty
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101606645

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
23 Jan 2019
Historique:
received: 05 09 2018
accepted: 06 01 2019
entrez: 24 1 2019
pubmed: 24 1 2019
medline: 9 4 2019
Statut: epublish

Résumé

High epilepsy prevalence and incidence have been reported in areas with high onchocerciasis transmission. Recent findings suggest that proper community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) is potentially able to prevent onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE). We assessed the epilepsy prevalence and onchocerciasis transmission in two Nigerian villages following more than 20 years of CDTI. A cross-sectional door-to-door survey was performed in two villages in the Imo River Basin reported to be mesoendomic for onchocerciasis (Umuoparaodu and Umuezeala). Individuals were screened for epilepsy using a validated 5-item questionnaire. Persons suspected to have epilepsy were examined by a neurologist or a physician with training in epilepsy for confirmation. Onchocerciasis was investigated via skin snip microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests for Ov16 antibodies. Results were compared with previous findings from the Imo river basin. A total of 843 individuals from 257 households in the two villages were encountered. We detected four persons with epilepsy (PWE) giving a crude epilepsy prevalence of 0.5%. This finding differs from observations reported 14 years ago which showed an epilepsy prevalence of 2.8% in the neighbouring village of Umulolo (P = 0.0001), and 1.2% from 13 villages in the Imo river basin (P = 0.07). The seroprevalence of Ov16 antibodies was found to be 0%. Only 4.6% of skin snips were positive compared to 26.8% in previous surveys (P < 0.0001). Ivermectin mass distribution coverage in the study sites in 2017 was 79.7%. A low epilepsy and onchocerciasis prevalence was observed following more than 20 years of CDTI in the Imo River Basin. Absence of Ov16 antibodies indicates minimal transmission of onchocerciasis. These results contrast with observations from areas of high onchocerciasis transmission, where epilepsy prevalence and incidence remain high. Findings from this study suggest that sustained efforts could eventually achieve elimination of onchocerciasis in these villages.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
High epilepsy prevalence and incidence have been reported in areas with high onchocerciasis transmission. Recent findings suggest that proper community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) is potentially able to prevent onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE). We assessed the epilepsy prevalence and onchocerciasis transmission in two Nigerian villages following more than 20 years of CDTI.
METHODS METHODS
A cross-sectional door-to-door survey was performed in two villages in the Imo River Basin reported to be mesoendomic for onchocerciasis (Umuoparaodu and Umuezeala). Individuals were screened for epilepsy using a validated 5-item questionnaire. Persons suspected to have epilepsy were examined by a neurologist or a physician with training in epilepsy for confirmation. Onchocerciasis was investigated via skin snip microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests for Ov16 antibodies. Results were compared with previous findings from the Imo river basin.
RESULTS RESULTS
A total of 843 individuals from 257 households in the two villages were encountered. We detected four persons with epilepsy (PWE) giving a crude epilepsy prevalence of 0.5%. This finding differs from observations reported 14 years ago which showed an epilepsy prevalence of 2.8% in the neighbouring village of Umulolo (P = 0.0001), and 1.2% from 13 villages in the Imo river basin (P = 0.07). The seroprevalence of Ov16 antibodies was found to be 0%. Only 4.6% of skin snips were positive compared to 26.8% in previous surveys (P < 0.0001). Ivermectin mass distribution coverage in the study sites in 2017 was 79.7%.
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
A low epilepsy and onchocerciasis prevalence was observed following more than 20 years of CDTI in the Imo River Basin. Absence of Ov16 antibodies indicates minimal transmission of onchocerciasis. These results contrast with observations from areas of high onchocerciasis transmission, where epilepsy prevalence and incidence remain high. Findings from this study suggest that sustained efforts could eventually achieve elimination of onchocerciasis in these villages.

Identifiants

pubmed: 30670093
doi: 10.1186/s40249-019-0517-9
pii: 10.1186/s40249-019-0517-9
pmc: PMC6343278
doi:

Substances chimiques

Antiparasitic Agents 0
Ivermectin 70288-86-7

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

8

Subventions

Organisme : H2020 European Research Council
ID : 768815

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Auteurs

Joseph N F Siewe (JNF)

Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Doornstraat 331, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium. josephnelson.siewefodjo@uantwerpen.be.

Chinyere N Ukaga (CN)

Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

Ernest O Nwazor (EO)

Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria.
Madonna University Teaching Hospital, Elele, Nigeria.

Murphy O Nwoke (MO)

Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

Modebelu C Nwokeji (MC)

Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

Blessing C Onuoha (BC)

Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

Simon O Nwanjor (SO)

Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

Joel Okeke (J)

Imo State Ministry of Health, Owerri, Nigeria.

Kate Osahor (K)

Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

Lilian Chimechefulam (L)

Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

Ann I Ogomaka (AI)

Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

Augustine A Amaechi (AA)

Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

Chika I Ezenwa (CI)

Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

Monika N Ezike (MN)

Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

Chidimma Ikpeama (C)

Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

Ogechi Nwachukwu (O)

Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

Austine I Eriama-Joseph (AI)

Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

Berthram E B Nwoke (BEB)

Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

Robert Colebunders (R)

Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Doornstraat 331, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium.

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Classifications MeSH