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Review
. 2022 Apr;22(4):285-291.
doi: 10.1007/s11910-022-01187-6. Epub 2022 Mar 25.

Epileptogenesis in Common Parasitic Infections

Rajarshi Mazumder  1 , John K Lee  2
Affiliations
Review

Epileptogenesis in Common Parasitic Infections

Rajarshi Mazumder et al. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose of the review: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) has been well recognized as a leading cause of epilepsy. More recently, studies of other parasitic diseases such as cerebral malaria (CM) and onchocerciasis are yielding novel insights into the pathogenesis of parasite-associated epilepsy. We compare the clinical and electrophysiological findings in epilepsy associated with these highly prevalent parasites and discuss the mechanisms involved in epileptogenesis.

Recent findings: Electrophysiological and imaging biomarkers continue to emerge, and individuals who are at-risk of developing parasite-associated epilepsies are being identified with greater reliability. While both Taenia solium and Plasmodium falciparum directly affect the brain parenchyma, Onchocerca volvulus is not known to invade the central nervous system. Thus, the causal association between O. volvulus and epilepsy remains controversial. Both NCC and CM have a well-defined acute phase when the parasites directly or indirectly invade the brain parenchyma and lead to local inflammatory changes. This is followed by a chronic phase marked by recurrent seizures. However, these stages of epileptogenic process have not been identified in the case of O. volvulus.

Keywords: Acquired epilepsy; Epileptogenesis; Malaria; Neurocysticercosis; Onchocerciasis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Rajarshi Mazumder and John K Lee declare that they do not have any conflict of interest.

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