Is nodding syndrome an Onchocerca volvulus-induced neuroinflammatory disorder? Uganda's story of research in understanding the disease
Nodding syndrome is a devastating neurological disorder, mostly affecting children in eastern Africa. An estimated 10 000 children are affected. Uganda, one of the most affected countries, set out to systematically investigate the disease and develop interventions for it. On December 21, 2015, the M...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2016-04-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971216309882 |
| _version_ | 1818683482069532672 |
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| author | Richard Idro Bernard Opar Joseph Wamala Catherine Abbo Sylvester Onzivua Deogratius Amos Mwaka Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige Anthony Mbonye Jane R. Aceng |
| author_facet | Richard Idro Bernard Opar Joseph Wamala Catherine Abbo Sylvester Onzivua Deogratius Amos Mwaka Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige Anthony Mbonye Jane R. Aceng |
| author_sort | Richard Idro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nodding syndrome is a devastating neurological disorder, mostly affecting children in eastern Africa. An estimated 10 000 children are affected. Uganda, one of the most affected countries, set out to systematically investigate the disease and develop interventions for it. On December 21, 2015, the Ministry of Health held a meeting with community leaders from the affected areas to disseminate the results of the investigations made to date. This article summarizes the presentation and shares the story of studies into this peculiar disease. It also shares the results of preliminary studies on its pathogenesis and puts into perspective an upcoming treatment intervention. Clinical and electrophysiological studies have demonstrated nodding syndrome to be a complex epilepsy disorder. A definitive aetiological agent has not been established, but in agreement with other affected countries, a consistent epidemiological association has been demonstrated with infection by Onchocerca volvulus. Preliminary studies of its pathogenesis suggest that nodding syndrome may be a neuroinflammatory disorder, possibly induced by antibodies to O. volvulus cross-reacting with neuron proteins. Histological examination of post-mortem brains has shown some yet to be characterized polarizable material in the majority of specimens. Studies to confirm these observations and a clinical trial are planned for 2016. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:35:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3726e5995d5940b6836e0df274925075 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1201-9712 1878-3511 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:35:26Z |
| publishDate | 2016-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-3726e5995d5940b6836e0df2749250752022-12-21T21:52:25ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases1201-97121878-35112016-04-0145C11211710.1016/j.ijid.2016.03.002Is nodding syndrome an Onchocerca volvulus-induced neuroinflammatory disorder? Uganda's story of research in understanding the diseaseRichard Idro0Bernard Opar1Joseph Wamala2Catherine Abbo3Sylvester Onzivua4Deogratius Amos Mwaka5Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige6Anthony Mbonye7Jane R. Aceng8Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7072, Kampala, UgandaMinistry of Health Headquarters, Kampala, UgandaMinistry of Health Headquarters, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7072, Kampala, UgandaMulago Hospital, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7072, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7072, Kampala, UgandaMinistry of Health Headquarters, Kampala, UgandaMinistry of Health Headquarters, Kampala, UgandaNodding syndrome is a devastating neurological disorder, mostly affecting children in eastern Africa. An estimated 10 000 children are affected. Uganda, one of the most affected countries, set out to systematically investigate the disease and develop interventions for it. On December 21, 2015, the Ministry of Health held a meeting with community leaders from the affected areas to disseminate the results of the investigations made to date. This article summarizes the presentation and shares the story of studies into this peculiar disease. It also shares the results of preliminary studies on its pathogenesis and puts into perspective an upcoming treatment intervention. Clinical and electrophysiological studies have demonstrated nodding syndrome to be a complex epilepsy disorder. A definitive aetiological agent has not been established, but in agreement with other affected countries, a consistent epidemiological association has been demonstrated with infection by Onchocerca volvulus. Preliminary studies of its pathogenesis suggest that nodding syndrome may be a neuroinflammatory disorder, possibly induced by antibodies to O. volvulus cross-reacting with neuron proteins. Histological examination of post-mortem brains has shown some yet to be characterized polarizable material in the majority of specimens. Studies to confirm these observations and a clinical trial are planned for 2016.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971216309882Nodding syndromeAetiologyOnchocerca volvulusPathogenesisTreatment |
| spellingShingle | Richard Idro Bernard Opar Joseph Wamala Catherine Abbo Sylvester Onzivua Deogratius Amos Mwaka Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige Anthony Mbonye Jane R. Aceng Is nodding syndrome an Onchocerca volvulus-induced neuroinflammatory disorder? Uganda's story of research in understanding the disease International Journal of Infectious Diseases Nodding syndrome Aetiology Onchocerca volvulus Pathogenesis Treatment |
| title | Is nodding syndrome an Onchocerca volvulus-induced neuroinflammatory disorder? Uganda's story of research in understanding the disease |
| title_full | Is nodding syndrome an Onchocerca volvulus-induced neuroinflammatory disorder? Uganda's story of research in understanding the disease |
| title_fullStr | Is nodding syndrome an Onchocerca volvulus-induced neuroinflammatory disorder? Uganda's story of research in understanding the disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is nodding syndrome an Onchocerca volvulus-induced neuroinflammatory disorder? Uganda's story of research in understanding the disease |
| title_short | Is nodding syndrome an Onchocerca volvulus-induced neuroinflammatory disorder? Uganda's story of research in understanding the disease |
| title_sort | is nodding syndrome an onchocerca volvulus induced neuroinflammatory disorder uganda s story of research in understanding the disease |
| topic | Nodding syndrome Aetiology Onchocerca volvulus Pathogenesis Treatment |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971216309882 |
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