Seroprevalence of Cysticercosis among Epileptic Patients Attending Neurological Units in the Urban Area of Abidjan

Man-Koumba Soumahoro,Berthe Assi,Jacques Bellalou,Ronan Jambou,Mamadou Camara,Gildas Boris Tazemda-Kuitsouc,Constance Yapo-Ehounoud,Thérèse Sonan,Yves Landry Kangah,Jihen Melki,Mireille Nowakowski

doi:10.3390/microorganisms9081712

Abstract

Cysticercosis is one of the main causes of secondary epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa. To estimate the seroprevalence of cysticercosis among epileptic patients, we conducted a cross-sectional study of patients attending neurology consultation in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Methods: Patients’ socio-demographic and lifestyle data were collected as well as blood samples for serological testing using ELISA and Western blot based on IgG antibodies detection. For qualitative variables comparison, Chi2 or Fisher tests were used; a Student’s t-test was used to compare quantitative variables. A multivariate logistic regression model was fit to identify risks factors. Results: Among 403 epileptic patients included in the study, 55.3% were male; the median age was 16.9 years; 77% lived in Abidjan; 26.5% were workers. Most patients included in the study had tonic-clonic seizures (80%), and 11.2% had focal deficit signs. The seroprevalence of cysticercosis was 6.0%. The risk was higher in patients over 30 years old (aOR = 5.1 (1.3–20.0)) than in patients under 16. The risk was also considerably high in patients who reported epileptics in the family (aOR = 5 (1.7–14.6)). The risk was three-fold less in females than in males. Conclusions: This study highlighted the exposure of epileptic patients to Taenia solium larvae in an urban area. The risk of positive serology was increased with age, male gender, and family history of epilepsy.

Highlights

Epilepsy is a common and chronic neurological condition that poses public health concern, especially in Africa [1]
The objectives of this study are to describe the characteristics of epileptic patients diagnosed in neurology services of public hospitals in Abidjan, to estimate the seroprevalence of cysticercosis among these patients, and to analyze their exposure factors to cysticercosis
The epileptic patients included in the study were mostly young people, as observed in several other studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa [12,20,21,22]

Summary

Introduction

Epilepsy is a common and chronic neurological condition that poses public health concern, especially in Africa [1]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is one of the most widespread non-communicable diseases affecting about 50 million people worldwide [2]. The geographical distribution of this disease is uneven. The number of people suffering from epilepsy is much higher in low- and middle-income countries, where nearly 80% of cases are concentrated. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most affected region, with an annual incidence ranging from 45.0 per 100,000 to 81.7 per 100,000. Studies conducted in the outpatient neurology departments of the Cocody University Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most affected region, with an annual incidence ranging from 45.0 per 100,000 to 81.7 per 100,000. [2,3,4].

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