Abstract
Epilepsy and onchocerciasis (river blindness) constitute serious public health problems in several tropical countries. There are four main mechanisms that might explain a relationship between these two diseases: (i) the presence of Onchocerca volvulus in the central nervous system; (ii) the pathogenicity of various O. volvulus strains; (iii) immunological mechanisms involving cross-reactive immunization or cytokine production during infection; and (iv) the triggering role of insomnia due to itching.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Causality
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Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections / complications*
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Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections / epidemiology
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Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections / immunology
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Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections / parasitology
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Cytokines / immunology
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Epilepsy / epidemiology
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Epilepsy / parasitology*
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Humans
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Onchocerca volvulus / immunology
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Onchocerca volvulus / pathogenicity*
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Onchocerciasis, Ocular / complications*
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Onchocerciasis, Ocular / epidemiology
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Onchocerciasis, Ocular / immunology
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Onchocerciasis, Ocular / parasitology*
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Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / complications