Is nodding syndrome in northern Uganda linked to consumption of mycotoxin contaminated food grains?
Abstract Objective Nodding syndrome (NS) is a type of epilepsy characterized by repeated head-nodding seizures that appear in previously healthy children between 3 and 18 years of age. In 2012, during a WHO International Meeting on NS in Kampala, Uganda, it was recommended that fungal contamination...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Research Notes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-018-3774-y |
| _version_ | 1818010149373083648 |
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| author | Richard Echodu Hilary Edema Geoffrey Maxwell Malinga Adam Hendy Robert Colebunders Joyce Moriku Kaducu Emilio Ovuga Geert Haesaert |
| author_facet | Richard Echodu Hilary Edema Geoffrey Maxwell Malinga Adam Hendy Robert Colebunders Joyce Moriku Kaducu Emilio Ovuga Geert Haesaert |
| author_sort | Richard Echodu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective Nodding syndrome (NS) is a type of epilepsy characterized by repeated head-nodding seizures that appear in previously healthy children between 3 and 18 years of age. In 2012, during a WHO International Meeting on NS in Kampala, Uganda, it was recommended that fungal contamination of foods should be investigated as a possible cause of the disease. We therefore aimed to assess whether consumption of fungal mycotoxins contributes to NS development. Results We detected similar high levels of total aflatoxin and ochratoxin in mostly millet, sorghum, maize and groundnuts in both households with and without children with NS. Furthermore, there was no significant association between concentrations of total aflatoxin, ochratoxin and doxynivalenol and the presence of children with NS in households. In conclusion, our results show no supporting evidence for the association of NS with consumption of mycotoxins in contaminated foods. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:51:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aa33c85fbc0d451db43bb7b140519b9a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-0500 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:51:38Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Research Notes |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa33c85fbc0d451db43bb7b140519b9a2022-12-22T02:09:06ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002018-09-011111510.1186/s13104-018-3774-yIs nodding syndrome in northern Uganda linked to consumption of mycotoxin contaminated food grains?Richard Echodu0Hilary Edema1Geoffrey Maxwell Malinga2Adam Hendy3Robert Colebunders4Joyce Moriku Kaducu5Emilio Ovuga6Geert Haesaert7Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gulu UniversityGulu University Bioscience Research LaboratoriesDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gulu UniversityDepartment of Pathology, University of Texas Medical BranchGlobal Health Institute, University of AntwerpDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu UniversityDepartment of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu UniversityDepartment of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent UniversityAbstract Objective Nodding syndrome (NS) is a type of epilepsy characterized by repeated head-nodding seizures that appear in previously healthy children between 3 and 18 years of age. In 2012, during a WHO International Meeting on NS in Kampala, Uganda, it was recommended that fungal contamination of foods should be investigated as a possible cause of the disease. We therefore aimed to assess whether consumption of fungal mycotoxins contributes to NS development. Results We detected similar high levels of total aflatoxin and ochratoxin in mostly millet, sorghum, maize and groundnuts in both households with and without children with NS. Furthermore, there was no significant association between concentrations of total aflatoxin, ochratoxin and doxynivalenol and the presence of children with NS in households. In conclusion, our results show no supporting evidence for the association of NS with consumption of mycotoxins in contaminated foods.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-018-3774-yNodding syndromeMycotoxinFood grainUganda |
| spellingShingle | Richard Echodu Hilary Edema Geoffrey Maxwell Malinga Adam Hendy Robert Colebunders Joyce Moriku Kaducu Emilio Ovuga Geert Haesaert Is nodding syndrome in northern Uganda linked to consumption of mycotoxin contaminated food grains? BMC Research Notes Nodding syndrome Mycotoxin Food grain Uganda |
| title | Is nodding syndrome in northern Uganda linked to consumption of mycotoxin contaminated food grains? |
| title_full | Is nodding syndrome in northern Uganda linked to consumption of mycotoxin contaminated food grains? |
| title_fullStr | Is nodding syndrome in northern Uganda linked to consumption of mycotoxin contaminated food grains? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is nodding syndrome in northern Uganda linked to consumption of mycotoxin contaminated food grains? |
| title_short | Is nodding syndrome in northern Uganda linked to consumption of mycotoxin contaminated food grains? |
| title_sort | is nodding syndrome in northern uganda linked to consumption of mycotoxin contaminated food grains |
| topic | Nodding syndrome Mycotoxin Food grain Uganda |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-018-3774-y |
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