Epilepsy and cysticercosis in Ivory Coast: Study in Abidjan

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Jambou Ronan, Soumahoro Man Koumba, Melki Jihen, Kangah Yves-Landry, Tanoh Abel Christian, Guede Cataud Marius, Kouame Adonis Krou Damien, Kouakou Yves Boris, Camara Mamadou, Sonan Therese, Assi Berthe

Pasteur Institute of Ivory Coast, Ivory Coast
Cocody Universitu Hospital Centre, Ivory Coast
University Felix Houphouet Boigny, Ivory Coast
Institut Pasteur, France

: J Neurosci Clin Res

Abstract

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The Cysticercosis is caused by the metacestode larvae of Taenia solium. Few data are available on cysticercosis in pigs and humans in West African countries. The aim of the study was to investigate the seroprevalence of cysticercosis among patients attending hospital for recent epilepsy. This was completed by a case-control study with non-epileptics enrolled in the same area of the patents and by a socio-economic study to investigate indicators associated with epilepsy and with cysticercosis. A standardized questionnaire was applied and a serodiagnostic of cysticercosis was performed. Typology of the patients was analyzed using Multicomponent analysis and Logistic regression on different sets of data describing the family, the household and the culinary and hygiene habits of the patients. Longitudinal exhaustive enrolment of epileptics was done in the three Neurology Units of the town, over 18 months. 403 patients were included (mean age 20.8±15.3 years, sex ratio 1.2). 77% were from Abidjan and the others arrived from 31 other towns in the country. Seroprevalence of cysticercosis was 8.4%. For cysticercosis a higher risk was found for male patients more than 30 years and reporting other cases of epilepsy in the family, but not in relation to religion or pork consumption. Most of cysticercosis positive patients lived in the northern rural suburbs of Abidjan. Typology of the patients was analyzed to improve the management of epilepsy in Ivory Coast. These data confirmed the transmission of cysticercosis in the country. Other parasite etiologies must be investigated as well as the presence of nodding syndrome in rural areas.

Biography

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E-mail: rjambou@pasteur.fr