Serological Studies of Neurologic Helminthic Infections in Rural Areas of Southwest Cameroon: Toxocariasis, Cysticercosis and Paragonimiasis

A total of 188 people (168 and 20 with and without symptoms confirmed by clinicians, respectively, 84.6% under 20 years old) were selected on a voluntary basis in Cameroon. Soil transmitted helminthic infections were prevalent among persons surveyed as is common in developing countries, since eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms were found from 56 (33.3%), 72 (42.8%) and 19 (11.3%) persons, respectively. Serological analyses revealed that 61 (36.3%), 25 (14.9%) and 2 (1.2%) persons were positive to the diagnostic antigens specific for toxocariasis, paragonimiasis and cysticercosis, respectively. Among 14 people with epilepsy, 5 persons were seropositive to the antigen of Toxocara and one of them was simultaneously positive to the antigens of Paragonimus. Serological confirmation of cysticercosis in two children is very important, and we suggest that further serologic surveys of cysticercosis be carried out in both children and adults in this area for the promotion of a better quality of life including control and early treatment

Immunoblot using the recombinant antigen of the 3 samples showing weak positive response by ELISA.

<p>Sera were in 1∶20 dilutions. Lane 1: negative control, lane 2: positive control, lanes 3–5: samples exhibited weak positive response by ELISA. Lanes 3 and 4 corresponding to the samples showing higher OD value by ELISA were positive to the recombinant antigen by immunoblot.</p

Locations of Bulutu, Ebonji, Etam and Teke in Tombel sub-Division, Southwest Province, Cameroon.

<p>Locations of Bulutu, Ebonji, Etam and Teke in Tombel sub-Division, Southwest Province, Cameroon.</p

Odds ratio of positive serological test for each symptom among 188 subjects.

<p>*Adjusted for age (−10y, 11–20y, >21y) and sex.</p

Paragonimiasis in Cameroon: molecular identification, serodiagnosis and clinical manifestations

Paragonimiasis is a common parasitic zoonosis in Cameroon and neighbouring countries in Western Africa. Serum, sputum and faecal samples were collected in an endemic area of South West Province, Cameroon, after administration of a questionnaire to identify individuals with appropriate symptoms and histories. Microscopic examination revealed eggs in sputum from 16 people, but none in any faecal sample. These 16 were among the 25 and 26 people, respectively, positive by ELISA and by immunoblot using Paragonimus africanus crude antigens. Copro-DNA detection was attempted using 23 faecal samples (18 from sputum egg-negative and five from sputum egg-positive individuals). Copro-DNA was detected in four of the five sputum egg-positive individuals. These results strongly suggest that: (1) serology is much more sensitive than sputum examination for diagnosis of paragonimiasis; and (2) a copro-DNA test may be more sensitive than a microscopic search for eggs in faeces. Molecular sequence data from ITS2 and cox1 genes confirmed that adult worms experimentally raised in cats were P. africanus and that eggs from sputum or other worm products from human faeces also belonged to this species. Based on these results, 26 of 168 persons (15.5%) were diagnosed as suffering from paragonimiasis