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Abstract: Objective: To investigate the relationship between white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, and Interleukin(IL)-1 α, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 production in Cameroonians with Onchocerca volvulus (O. volvulus) infection. Methods: A total of 357 individuals from five sites at Upper Sanga, Lekkie, Nyong, Kelle and Sanaga Maritime divisions and located along Sanaga valley of Sanaga River in South Cameroon were screened for the presence of O. volvulus using the skin snip. The levels of the interleukins (IL-) namely IL-1 α, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 were evaluated using enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay techniques. Haematological parameters were evaluated using standard laboratory automated analyser. Results: O. volvulus microfilariae were found in skin tissues of 85 (23.81%) volunteers. The mean interleukin (IL-) levels in the O. volvulus control and infected individuals were IL-1 α in (1.65±0.79 and 2.31±0.5) pg/mL; IL-6 in (278.36±55.34 and 201.74±34.56) pg/mL; IL-10 in (436.03±208.64 and 418.49±147.88) pg/mL and IL-13 in (8.98±7.28 and 38.06±11.92) pg/mL. There was a negative correlation between monocyte counts and IL-10 concentration in positive individuals. A negative correlation of IL-6 with white blood cell and lymphocyte counts was observed (P<0.05). The level of IL-13 was positively associated with microfilarial load (P<0.05). Conclusions: We observed depressed IL-6 and raised IL-13 concentrations in the sera of individuals with onchocerciasis which implicate these interleukins in the immunological responses of the disease. Therefore, these IL-6 and IL-13 are associated with O. volvulus infection among Cameroonians. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The occurrence of epileptic seizures during onchocercal infestation has been suspected. Epidemiologic studies are necessary to confirm the relation between onchocerciasis and epilepsy. A matched case-control study was conducted in dispensaries of three northwestern towns of the Central African Republic. Each epileptic case was matched against two nonepileptic controls on the six criteria of sex, age (±5 years), residence, treatment with ivermectin, date of last ivermectin dose, and the number of ivermectin doses. Onchocerciasis was defined as at least one microfilaria observed in iliac crest skin snip biopsy. A total of 561 subjects (187 cases and 374 controls) were included in the study. Of the epileptics, 39.6% had onchocerciasis, as did 35.8% of the controls. The mean dermal microfilarial load was 26 microfilariae per mg of skin (standard deviation, 42) in the epileptics and 24 microfilariae per mg of skin (standard deviation, 48) in the controls. This matched case-control study found some relation (odds ratio = 1.21, 95% confidence interval 0.81–1.80), although it was nonstatistically significant. Am J Epidemiol 1999; 149: 565–70. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]