Prevalence of Neurocysticercosis in People with Epilepsy in the Eastern Province of Zambia

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 Aug 18;9(8):e0003972. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003972. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Zambia is endemic for Taenia solium taeniosis and cysticercosis. In this single-centered, cross-sectional, community-based study, the role of neurocysticercosis (NCC) as a cause of epilepsy was examined. People with epilepsy (PWE, n = 56) were identified in an endemic area using a screening questionnaire followed by in-depth interviews and neurological examination. Computed tomography (CT) was performed on 49 people with active epilepsy (PWAE) and their sera (specific antibody and antigen detection, n = 56) and stools (copro-antigen detection, n = 54) were analyzed. The CT scan findings were compared to a group of 40 CT scan controls. Of the PWE, 39.3% and 23.2% were positive for cysticercal antibodies and antigens, respectively, and 14.8% for coproantigens (taeniosis). Lesions highly suggestive of NCC were detected in 24.5% and definite NCC lesions in 4.1% of CT scans of PWAE. This compares to 2.5% and 0%, respectively, in the control CT scans. Using the Del Brutto diagnostic criteria, 51.8% of the PWAE were diagnosed with probable or definitive NCC and this rose to 57.1% when the adapted criteria, as proposed by Gabriël et al. (adding the sero-antigen ELISA test as a major criterion), were used. There was no statistically significant relationship between NCC, current age, age at first seizure and gender. This study suggests that NCC is the single most important cause of epilepsy in the study area. Additional large-scale studies, combining a community based prevalence study for epilepsy with neuroimaging and serological analysis in different areas are needed to estimate the true impact of neurocysticercosis in endemic regions and efforts should be instituted to the control of T. solium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Epilepsy / epidemiology
  • Epilepsy / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurocysticercosis / complications*
  • Neurocysticercosis / diagnosis
  • Neurocysticercosis / epidemiology*
  • Prevalence
  • Young Adult
  • Zambia / epidemiology

Grants and funding

The study was funded by the Flemish Inter-University Council (VLIR-UOS.ZIUS2008RIP-8961), the ITM-DVTD framework agreement 3 and COST Action TD1302 “European Network on Taeniosis/Cysticercosis CYSTINET”. We acknowledge support by the German Research Foundation and the Open Access Publication Funds of the Göttingen University. The funding bodies had no influence on the study design, data collection, data analysis and decision to publish the data.