Project Details
Description
There is growing epidemiological evidence that onchocerciasis (river
blindness) can cause epilepsy (onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy,
OAE), a major unrecognized public health problem in sub-Saharan
Africa. However, the pathophysiological mechanism remains
unknown. Neither the Onchocerca volvulus, nor its endosymbiont
Wolbachia, appear to be able to pass the blood brain barrier (BBB).
Annual community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI), has
limited efficacy in reducing OAE incidence. Therefore, we will 1]
Investigate in onchocerciasis-endemic areas, in Cameroon, whether
a community based vector control method “slash & clear” combined
with CDTI is superior to CDTI alone to decrease the incidence of
OAE; 2] Explore whether O. volvulus excretory/secretory products
can cross the BBB and possibly trigger OAE, by comparing proteomic profiles of cerebro-spinal fluid of children with OAE with
those of different stages of the parasite; 3] Explore whether O.
volvulus infected blackflies may transmit a neutrotropic virus causing
OAE, by testing blackflies and sera from OAE cases with Q-PCR
targeting potential OAE specific viral sequences identified during a
metagenomic case-control study in South Sudan. Our findings will
provide context-specific evidence about a complementary strategy to
accelerate onchocerciasis elimination and new insights into the
underlying mechanisms of OAE, and as such contribute to reducing
the burden and stigma of ‘river epilepsy’.
Status | Active |
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Effective start/end date | 1/01/22 → 31/12/25 |
Funding
- Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek: €167,651.68
Flemish disciplinelist
- Epidemiology
- Health and community services
- Neurosciences not elsewhere classified
- Structural bioinformatics and computational proteomics
- Tropical medicine