Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, 2610, Belgium.
Amref Health Africa, Juba, South Sudan.
F1000Res. 2023 Dec 11;12:1262. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.138774.1. eCollection 2023.
A high prevalence of onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE) has been observed in onchocerciasis-endemic areas with high ongoing transmission. However, the pathogenesis of OAE remains to be elucidated. We hypothesise that the virome could be involved in inducing epilepsy. With this study, we aim to describe the virome and identify potential neurotropic viruses linked to OAE.
In Maridi County, an onchocerciasis endemic area in South Sudan with a high prevalence of OAE, we will conduct an exploratory case-control study enrolling 40 persons aged 12 years and above with palpable onchocerciasis nodules. Cases will be participants with OAE (n=20), who will be age- and village-matched with controls without epilepsy (n=20). For each study participant, two skin snips at the iliac crest will be obtained to collect microfilariae, and one nodulectomy will be performed to obtain adult worms. A viral metagenomic study will be conducted on microfilariae and adult worms, and the virome of persons with and without OAE will be compared. The number, size, and localisation of onchocerciasis nodules in persons with and without OAE will be described. Moreover, the pre- and post-nodulectomy frequency of seizures in persons with OAE will be compared.
The protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Antwerp and the Ministry of Health of South Sudan. Findings will be disseminated nationally and internationally via meetings and peer-reviewed publications.
ClinicalTrials.gov registration NCT05868551 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05868551).
1.1, dated 09/05/2023.
在传播仍在持续的盘尾丝虫病流行地区，观察到盘尾丝虫病相关癫痫（OAE）的高患病率。然而，OAE 的发病机制仍有待阐明。我们假设病毒组可能参与诱导癫痫。在这项研究中，我们旨在描述病毒组并确定与 OAE 相关的潜在神经嗜性病毒。
在南苏丹的马里迪县，这是一个盘尾丝虫病流行区，OAE 患病率很高，我们将开展一项探索性病例对照研究，纳入 40 名 12 岁及以上可触及盘尾丝虫结节的人。病例将是患有 OAE 的参与者（n=20），他们将与没有癫痫的对照者（n=20）按年龄和村庄匹配。对于每个研究参与者，将从髂嵴采集两个皮肤活检以收集微丝蚴，并进行一个结节切除术以获取成虫。将对微丝蚴和成虫进行病毒宏基因组研究，并比较患有和不患有 OAE 的人的病毒组。将描述患有和不患有 OAE 的人的盘尾丝虫结节的数量、大小和定位。此外，将比较患有 OAE 的人在结节切除术前和术后癫痫发作的频率。
该方案已获得安特卫普大学伦理委员会和南苏丹卫生部的批准。研究结果将通过会议和同行评审出版物在国内外传播。
ClinicalTrials.gov 注册 NCT05868551（https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05868551）。
1.1，日期为 2023 年 5 月 9 日。
