RESUMEN
Delayed cerebellar ataxia (DCA) is a rare post-malarial neurological complication with unknown pathomechanism characterized by its self-limiting course and favorable outcome. We report a case of DCA following an uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum infection in a 30-year old Swiss traveler returning from Cameroon and discuss the case in light of the published literature.
Asunto(s)
Ataxia Cerebelosa , Malaria Falciparum , Malaria , Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso , Adulto , Ataxia Cerebelosa/etiología , Humanos , Malaria Falciparum/complicaciones , Malaria Falciparum/tratamiento farmacológico , Anamnesis , Plasmodium falciparumRESUMEN
Cerebral malaria is a life-threatening complication of Plasmodia infection and a major cause of child mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. We report that protection from experimental cerebral malaria in the rodent model is obtained by a single intravenous or subcutaneous whole-parasite immunization. Whole-parasite immunization with radiation-attenuated sporozoites was equally protective as immunization with non-attenuated sporozoites under chemoprophylaxis. Both immunization regimens delayed the development of blood-stage parasites, but differences in cellular and humoral immune mechanisms were observed. Single-dose whole-parasite vaccination might serve as a relatively simple and feasible immunization approach to prevent life-threatening cerebral malaria.
