NeTroDis Research Group, Centre for Research in Applied Biology, School of Sciences, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Bono Region, Sunyani, Ghana.
Department of Biological Science, School of Sciences, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Bono Region, Sunyani, Ghana.
Infect Dis Poverty. 2023 Aug 17;12(1):75. doi: 10.1186/s40249-023-01117-9.
In onchocerciasis-endemic areas with high ongoing Onchocerca volvulus transmission, a high prevalence of epilepsy has been reported. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of epilepsy in the Bono Region of Ghana following 27 years of implementation of ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA).
Between October 2020 and August 2021, cross-sectional surveys were conducted in nine communities in the Tain District and Wenchi Municipality of the Bono Region of Ghana. In the first stage, a random door-to-door approach was used to screen the population for epilepsy using a pre-tested questionnaire. Persons suspected of having epilepsy were invited for a second-stage neurological examination for case verification. Community O. volvulus microfilarial infection status and Ov16 seropositivity were also determined. Ninety-five confidence intervals (95% CI) for prevalence values were calculated using the Wilson Score Interval.
Of the 971 participants, 500 (51.5%) were females, and the median age (interquartile range) was 26 (15‒43) years. Fourteen participants (1.4%, 95% CI: 1.0‒2.0) were diagnosed as having epilepsy with generalized seizures being the most frequent seizure type (85.7%, 12/14). The overall microfilarial prevalence of O. volvulus was 10.3% (November 2020) and 9.9% (August 2021); the Ov16 seroprevalence was 22.2% (June 2021). Only 63.2% took ivermectin in the last round of MDA distribution in March 2021.
The 1.4% prevalence of epilepsy in the Bono region is similar to the median epilepsy prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the persistent microfilarial prevalence and low ivermectin study coverage call for the Ghana Onchocerciasis Elimination Programme to step up its efforts to ensure that the gains achieved are consolidated and improved to achieve the elimination of onchocerciasis by 2030.
在盘尾丝虫病流行地区，持续存在高强度的盘尾丝虫传播，报告显示该地区癫痫患病率较高。本研究旨在确定加纳博诺地区在实施伊维菌素大规模药物治疗（MDA）27 年后，癫痫的流行率和临床特征。
2020 年 10 月至 2021 年 8 月，在加纳博诺地区塔因区和温奇市的 9 个社区进行了横断面调查。第一阶段采用随机上门的方式，使用预先测试的问卷对人群进行癫痫筛查。对疑似患有癫痫的人员进行邀请，进行第二阶段的神经学检查，以进行病例确认。同时还确定了社区盘尾丝虫微丝蚴感染状况和 Ov16 血清阳性率。使用威尔逊得分区间计算患病率值的 95%置信区间（95%CI）。
在 971 名参与者中，500 名（51.5%）为女性，中位年龄（四分位间距）为 26（15-43）岁。有 14 名参与者（1.4%，95%CI：1.0-2.0）被诊断患有癫痫，全身性发作是最常见的发作类型（85.7%，12/14）。盘尾丝虫的总体微丝蚴患病率为 10.3%（2020 年 11 月）和 9.9%（2021 年 8 月）；Ov16 血清阳性率为 22.2%（2021 年 6 月）。仅 63.2%的人在 2021 年 3 月最后一轮 MDA 分发中服用了伊维菌素。
博诺地区 1.4%的癫痫患病率与撒哈拉以南非洲的癫痫平均患病率相似。然而，持续存在的微丝蚴患病率和低伊维菌素研究覆盖率呼吁加纳盘尾丝虫病消除计划加大努力，确保巩固和改善已取得的成果，以实现到 2030 年消除盘尾丝虫病的目标。
