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Investigating risk factors and prevalence for neurocysticercosis: a case study of Busia District, Kenya

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DownieK_2010redux.pdf (42.76Mb)
Date
2010
Author
Downie, Katharine Jane
Downie-Ngini, Katharine Jane
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Abstract
 
 
There has been a significant increase in pig production in the Eastern and Southern Africa region during the past decade (Githigia et al., 2002), (Thuranira, 2005), especially in rural, resource-poor, small holder communities. Accompanying this has been the emergence of porcine cysticercosis as a problem in many of these areas including western Kenya (Mutua et al., 2006).
 
OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of neurocysticercosis among epileptics in Busia District, Western Province, Kenya and investigate the risk factors associated with neurocysticercosis (NCC).
 
METHODS: A group of 628 epileptics were identified using hospital and Special School records, key informant interviews and snowball survey techniques and a standard questionnaire to assess risk factors for neurocysticercosis or taeniasis, administered. Household information was also collected and an asset index formulated for each patient's household (n=471). Sera was taken from 630 subjects and tested for exposure to T. solium using an antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag ELISA). The sera was also tested using an antibody (Ab) ELISA which tested for cysticercosis (metacestode exposure) and enzyme-linked immunotrarisfer blot assay (EITB, Western Blot) which tested for taeniasis and cysticercosis. Univariate and multivariate analysis was conducted to investigate the factors associated with seropositivity.
 
RESULTS: There was one positive case of neurocysticercosis found by Ag ELISA and 209 subjects tested positive for exposure by Ab ELISA. There were 10 positive results using the EITB, 6 were positive using ES38 and 4 using Lentil Lectin purified glycoprotein (LLPG).
 
CONCLUSION: T. solium infections have multiple societal impacts including human health and productivity as well as livestock production and there needs to be further investigation into the burden of the disease.
 
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1842/29735
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  • Edinburgh Medical School thesis and dissertation collection

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