Focus of Ongoing Onchocerciasis Transmission Close to Bangui, Central African Republic
Open Access
- 29 April 2020
- Vol. 9 (5), 337
- https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9050337
Abstract
Recently, there were anecdotal reports of a high number of persons with epilepsy, including children with nodding seizures in the Landja Mboko area located about 9 km from the capital city Bangui, Central African Republic. We suspected the area to be endemic for onchocerciasis, and that the alleged increase in the number of epilepsy cases was due to ongoing Onchocerca volvulus transmission. However, ivermectin mass drug distribution (MDA) had never been implemented in the area. Therefore we performed an Ov16 antibody prevalence study among children, aged 6–9 years, using the biplex rapid diagnostic test (SD Bioline Oncho/LF biplex IgG4 RDT). The overall Ov16 seroprevalence was 8.9%, and that of lymphatic filariasis (LF) was 1.9%. Ov16 seropositivity was highest in Kodjo (20.0%), a village close to rapids on the river. Our study shows that there is ongoing O. volvulus transmission in the Landja Mboko area. We recommend that the extent of this onchocerciasis focus should be mapped, and the introduction of ivermectin MDA should be considered in these communities.Funding Information
- H2020 European Research Council (671055)
This publication has 11 references indexed in Scilit:
- Alternative treatment strategies to accelerate the elimination of onchocerciasisInternational Health, 2018
- High prevalence of epilepsy in onchocerciasis endemic regions in the Democratic Republic of the CongoPLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2017
- Positivity of Antigen Tests Used for Diagnosis of Lymphatic Filariasis in Individuals Without Wuchereria bancrofti Infection But with High Loa loa MicrofilaremiaThe American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2016
- Risk factors for epilepsy in Bas-Uélé Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo: a case–control studyInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2016
- The Geographic Distribution of Loa loa in Africa: Results of Large-Scale Implementation of the Rapid Assessment Procedure for Loiasis (RAPLOA)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2011
- Clinical picture, epidemiology and outcome of Loa-associated serious adverse events related to mass ivermectin treatment of onchocerciasis in CameroonFilaria Journal, 2003
- Relationship between onchocerciasis and epilepsy: a matched case-control study in the Mbam Valley, Republic of Cameroon.Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2002
- Onchocerciasis and epilepsy: a matched case-control study in the Central African Republic.American Journal of Epidemiology, 1999
- Blindness and visual impairment in a region endemic for onchocerciasis in the Central African RepublicBritish Journal of Ophthalmology, 1997
- The Nakalanga Syndrome in Kabarole District, Western UgandaThe American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1996