Publications by authors named "Dominik Stelzle"

Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the main cause of epilepsy in endemic rural communities. NCC diagnosis is difficult due to unavailability and unaffordability of serologic assays and neuroimaging. This study aimed to assess the performance of a cheap, novel lateral-flow point-of-care (TS POC) test for the diagnosis of NCC in a community setting.

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Background: Epilepsy poses a significant public health problem in many parts of the world. The majority of people with epilepsy (PWE) are from low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Taenia solium neurocysticercosis (NCC) is estimated to cause 30% of preventable epilepsy in PWE in areas of T.

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Background: The parasitic infection caused by Taenia solium represents a significant public health concern in developing countries. Larval invasion of body tissues leads to cysticercosis (CC), while central nervous system (CNS) involvement results in neurocysticercosis (NCC). Both conditions exhibit diverse clinical manifestations, and the potential impact of concomitant HIV infection especially prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa on peripheral and CNS immune responses remains poorly understood.

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Background: This study aimed at describing the epidemiology of (neuro)cysticercosis as well as its clinical and radiological characteristics in a Taenia solium endemic district of Zambia.

Methods: This was part of a cross-sectional community-based study conducted in Sinda district to evaluate an antibody-detecting T. solium point-of-care (TS POC) test for taeniosis and (neuro)cysticercosis.

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porcine cysticercosis (PCC) is widespread in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where free-range pig rearing is common and hygienic standards are subpar. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 42 villages between June and September 2019 (14 in Songwe district, southwest Tanzania, and 28 in Kongwa district, central Tanzania). Using a commercial Ag-ELISA kit (apDia, Belgium), circulating antigens of in pig serum were identified and used to calculate the PCC seroprevalence.

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Article Synopsis
  • Intestinal helminth infections are highly prevalent in the Chiparamba area of Zambia, negatively affecting health and development.
  • A study conducted from June 2019 to December 2022 involved analyzing 2,762 stool samples from at-risk villages, revealing a 7.1% positivity rate for at least one helminth, with hookworm and S. mansoni being the most common.
  • Male sex and village location were significant factors associated with the prevalence of intestinal parasites, indicating the importance of community-level interventions for control.
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Background: Women's empowerment is an important factor for HIV prevention, but the association with HIV-related indicators has never been quantified. In this study, we examined the association between women's empowerment and selected HIV-related indicators.

Methods: We used the latest Demographic and Health Surveys that included HIV testing among other biomarkers of 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

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Background: Neurocysticercosis is a common cause of epilepsy in Taenia solium-endemic areas in sub-Saharan Africa but is often undiagnosed because of an absence of affordable diagnostic tools. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of a T solium cysticercosis antibody-detecting lateral-flow point-of-care assay (TS POC test) for the neuroimaging-based diagnosis of neurocysticercosis.

Methods: Patients with epileptic seizures or severe progressive headache were recruited consecutively from three hospitals in southern Tanzania.

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Burundi has one of the highest prevalence of stunting in the world. This study aimed to identify determinants of stunting among children under age five in Burundi. A total of 4993 children with anthropometric measurements from the 2016-2017 Burundi Demographic and Health Survey were included in the study.

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Background: Taenia solium is a tapeworm that causes taeniosis in humans and cysticercosis in humans and pigs. Within Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), information on the presence of human taeniosis and cysticercosis seems scarce. This systematic review aimed to describe the current information available and gaps in the epidemiology of human T.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study investigates the knowledge, perceptions, and experiences of epilepsy among individuals affected by T. solium neurocysticercosis (NCC) and their caregivers in Tanzania, where epilepsy is linked to significant stigma.
  • Interviews revealed participants had a low understanding of epilepsy, often attributing it to witchcraft rather than recognizing its connection to T. solium.
  • The findings highlight the need for improved health education to address misconceptions and promote biomedical treatments instead of relying solely on traditional healing methods.
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  • * The study utilized a new antibody detection test to diagnose NCC in patients with and without epileptic seizures, revealing that serologically positive patients typically had more lesions, including active stages, compared to negative patients.
  • * Patients with NCC were generally older and experienced more severe symptoms, such as focal onset seizures and headaches, than those without NCC.
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  • Neurocysticercosis (NCC), caused by the pork tapeworm T. solium, is a significant but often undiagnosed contributor to secondary epilepsy, particularly in eastern Africa.
  • A study involving 1,179 epilepsy patients from Uganda, Malawi, and Tanzania found that NCC prevalence varied widely among locations, influenced by factors such as age, occupation, and proximity to pigs.
  • NCC is associated with a delayed onset of seizures in patients and appears to be better managed, although diagnostic tools show varying effectiveness in detecting the infection.
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  • Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a rare disease in Europe caused by a tapeworm that mostly affects people from Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
  • Many patients experience symptoms like seizures, headaches, and other neurological issues, often related to travel to these regions.
  • Most patients were treated successfully, but it’s important for doctors in Europe to understand NCC better for better patient care.
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Background: Epilepsy and neurocysticercosis (NCC) prevalence estimates in sub-Saharan Africa are still scarce but show important variation due to the population studied and different screening and diagnosis strategies used. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of epileptic seizures and epilepsy in the sampled population, and the proportion of NCC among people with epilepsy (PWE) in a large cross-sectional study in a rural district of southern Malawi.

Methods: We conducted a community-based door-to-door screening study for epileptic seizures in Balaka, Malawi between October and December 2012.

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Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders worldwide. Yet, its treatment gap is large in some areas and especially in sub-Saharan Africa data on clinical, radiological and semiological characteristics, as well as on treatment of persons with epilepsy (PWE) are still scarce.

Methods: We pooled data from four cross-sectional studies on epilepsy in eastern Africa.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Community health education using digital materials can enhance health literacy, especially in rural areas, and is crucial to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.
  • - This study aimed to evaluate how a digital health education intervention influenced knowledge retention about HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and Taenia solium in rural Tanzania over 12 months.
  • - Results showed significant increases in disease knowledge among participants who received the intervention compared to those in the control group, with improvements of 10.2% for HIV/AIDS, 12% for TB, and 31.5% for T. solium knowledge.
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Background: Taenia solium (neuro-)cysticercosis, a neglected tropical disease, can be associated with epileptic seizures and other neuropsychiatric (= neurological and psychiatric) disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the association of T. solium cysticercosis with selected neuropsychiatric disorders and/or symptoms (chronic headache, epileptic seizures/epilepsy and psychosis) in Mocuba district, Mozambique.

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  • Taenia solium cysticercosis/taeniasis (TSCT) is a disease primarily affecting pig-producing regions, leading to health issues and economic losses worldwide.* -
  • A cross-sectional study in Tanzania assessed local knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding TSCT, revealing good awareness among pig owners but significant gaps in understanding transmission, prevention, and the link to epilepsy.* -
  • The findings highlight discrepancies between reported behaviors and actual sanitary conditions, indicating that poor practices could impede efforts to control T. solium and suggesting that targeted health interventions are necessary.*
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HIV substantially worsens human papillomavirus (HPV) carcinogenicity and contributes to an important population excess of cervical cancer, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We estimated HIV- and age-stratified cervical cancer burden at a country, regional and global level in 2020. Proportions of cervical cancer (a) diagnosed in women living with HIV (WLHIV), and (b) attributable to HIV, were calculated using age-specific estimates of HIV prevalence (UNAIDS) and relative risk.

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diagnosis is challenging as trained personnel, good diagnostic tools, and infrastructure is lacking in resource-poor areas. This paper aims to describe the study trial design adopted to evaluate a newly developed rapid point-of-care test that simultaneously detects taeniosis and neurocysticercosis (TS POC) in three district hospitals in Tanzania. The two-stage design included three types of patients: patients with specific neurological signs and symptoms (group 1); patients with complaints compatible with intestinal worm infections (group 2); patients with other symptom(s) (group 3).

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Field-applicable, high-quality, and low-cost diagnostic tools are urgently needed for . The aim of this paper is to describe the design, challenges, and rationale for the design of a diagnostic accuracy study in low-resource community settings in Zambia. The trial was designed as a prospective study with a two-stage design to evaluate a new point-of-care test (TS POC) for the detection of taeniosis and (neuro)cysticercosis.

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Objectives: Epileptic seizures and epilepsy in urban settings of low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC) are largely under-researched, but their prevalence is necessary for good healthcare planning. This study aimed to determine the lifetime prevalence of epileptic seizures and epilepsy in urban Dar es Salaam.

Methods: Nearly 50,000 people in former Kinondoni district, Dar es Salaam, were screened for epileptic seizures using a set of nine questions.

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