Procedure for Handling and Storage of Microfilariae Obtained from Skin Snips for Downstream Genetic Work.

WHO and endemic countries target elimination of transmission of , the parasite causing onchocerciasis. Population genetic analysis of may provide data to improve the evidence base for decisions on when, where, and for how long to deploy which interventions and post-intervention surveillance to achieve elimination. Development of necessary methods and tools requires parasites suitable for genetic analysis.

Comparison of Diagnostic Tests for in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Onchocerciasis is diagnosed by detecting microfilariae in skin snips or by detecting OV16 IgG4 antibodies in blood by either enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or a rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Here, we compare the sensitivity and specificity of these three tests in persons with epilepsy living in an onchocerciasis endemic region in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Skin snips and blood samples were collected from 285 individuals for onchocerciasis diagnosis.

Single versus Multiple Dose Ivermectin Regimen in Onchocerciasis-Infected Persons with Epilepsy Treated with Phenobarbital: A Randomized Clinical Trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: There is anecdotal evidence that ivermectin may decrease seizure frequency in -infected persons with epilepsy (PWE).

Methods: In October 2017, a 12-month clinical trial was initiated in rural Democratic Republic of Congo. PWE with onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy experiencing ≥2 seizures/month were randomly allocated to receive, over a one-year period, ivermectin once or thrice (group 1), while other onchocerciasis-infected PWE (OIPWE) were randomized to ivermectin twice or thrice (group 2).

Urinary N-acetyltyramine-O,β-glucuronide in Persons with OnchocerciasisAssociated Epilepsy.

We investigated urinary N-acetyltyramine-O,β-glucuronide (NATOG) levels as a biomarker for active infection in an onchocerciasis-endemic area in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a high epilepsy prevalence. Urinary NATOG was measured in non-epileptic men with and without infection, and in infected persons with epilepsy (PWE). Urinary NATOG concentration was positively associated with microfilarial density ( < 0.

Ivermectin as an adjuvant to anti-epileptic treatment in persons with onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy: A randomized proof-of-concept clinical trial.

Introduction: Recent findings from onchocerciasis-endemic foci uphold that increasing ivermectin coverage reduces the epilepsy incidence, and anecdotal evidence suggests seizure frequency reduction in persons with onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy, when treated with ivermectin. We conducted a randomized clinical trial to assess whether ivermectin treatment decreases seizure frequency.

Methods: A proof-of-concept randomized clinical trial was conducted in the Logo health zone in the Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, to compare seizure frequencies in onchocerciasis-infected persons with epilepsy (PWE) randomized to one of two treatment arms: the anti-epileptic drug phenobarbital supplemented with ivermectin, versus phenobarbital alone.

Onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Clinical description and relationship with microfilarial density.

Background: High epilepsy prevalence and incidence were observed in onchocerciasis-endemic villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We investigated the clinical characteristics of onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE), and the relationship between seizure severity and microfilarial density.

Methods: In October 2017, ivermectin-naive persons with epilepsy (PWE) were recruited from onchocerciasis-endemic areas in the Logo health zone in the DRC.