RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Neurolathyrism is an upper motor neuron disorder characterized by spastic paraparesis, which is caused by the prolonged over-consumption of grass pea. It is a devastating disease with great impacts on physical, social, mental, and economical health. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of neurolathyrism and its associated factors in grass pea cultivation areas of Dawunt wereda. METHODS: Community based cross-sectional study design was conducted from February 01- March 30, 2021 on 631 Households with a total of 3,350 individuals. Two-stage random sampling technique was used to select participants. Multilevel binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with neurolathyrism. Statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05; and AOR with 95% CI was used to interpret the results. RESULTS: The household and population level prevalence of neurolathyrism in Dawunt district were 9.2% (7.2-11.7%) and 2.4% (2.0-2.3.0%) respectively. Age (AOR = 7.4 ( 2.6-20.6)), male sex (AOR = 7.8 (3.9, 15.4)), and marital status (AOR = 4.0 (1.3-12.8)) were the individual level variables; family size (AOR = 12.6 (3.0-52.8)), annual grass pea production (AOR = 5.0 (2.3-11.0)), ever feeding only grass pea (AOR = 8.8(3.5-22.2)), ever feeding immature seeds of grass pea (AOR = 6.28 (2.80, 14.08)), high grass pea to other cereals mixing ratio (> 3:1) (AOR = 6.1 (1.1, 33.5)) were the household level variables found to have significant association with neurolathyrism. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of neurolathyrism was found to be high. Ever feeding only grass pea, Grass pea to other cereals mixing ratio (using ratio of 1:1 or more), and Ever feeding immature grass pea seeds were the modifiable risk factors for neurolathyrism.
Asunto(s)
Latirismo , Lathyrus , Humanos , Masculino , Latirismo/epidemiología , Latirismo/etiología , Pisum sativum , Análisis Multinivel , Etiopía/epidemiología , Estudios Transversales , PrevalenciaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Neurolathyrism is a toxic nutritional disorder caused by consumption of the grass pea, Lathyrus sativus. The disease, which manifests as an acute or insidiously evolving spastic paraparesis, continues to occur throughout Africa and Asia. Research on this disease is limited, and to our knowledge no imaging studies of patients with neurolathyrism have been published. OBJECTIVES: To better localize the site of damage in neurolathyrism using advanced imaging methods. METHODS: Three male patients, immigrants from Ethiopia, were included in the study. All had a history of arrested spastic paraparesis that had evolved before their emigration from Ethiopia, and a past history of exposure to grass pea without any other cause. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) included simple motor tasks to evaluate cortical motor areas. Anatomic scans included diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to evaluate the corticospinal tracts. RESULTS: In all patients clear activation was found in motor regions, and the patients' activity pattern was qualitatively similar to that in control sublects. In one patient in whom clinical symptoms were asymmetric, an asymmetric activity pattern in Ml was identified. DTI analysis identified intact corticospinal tracts connecting the pons and the primary motor regions, similar to control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced neuroimaging clearly identified well-functioning motor regions and tracts in neurolathyrism patients, suggesting a spinal etiology.
Asunto(s)
Latirismo , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Corteza Motora , Tractos Piramidales , Adulto , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Humanos , Israel , Latirismo/diagnóstico , Latirismo/etiología , Latirismo/fisiopatología , Lathyrus/toxicidad , Masculino , Corteza Motora/patología , Corteza Motora/fisiopatología , Examen Neurológico/métodos , Tractos Piramidales/efectos de los fármacos , Tractos Piramidales/patologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Lathyrus species as legumes represent an alternative protein source for human and animal nutrition. Heavy consumption of these species can lead to lathyrism, caused by the non-protein amino acid ß-N-oxalyl-l-α,ß-diaminopropionic acid (ß-ODAP). Currently, there is no well-defined level below which ß-ODAP is considered non-toxic. In this work, the ß-ODAP content was determined in L. sativus and L. cicera samples to assess their potential toxicity. Homoarginine is another non-protein amino acid found in Lathyrus spp. with interesting implications for human and animal nutrition. RESULTS: The level of ß-ODAP found in these two species ranged from 0.79 to 5.05 mg g(-1). The homoarginine content of the samples ranged from 7.49 to 12.44 mg g(-1). CONCLUSION: This paper describes an accurate, fast and sensitive method of simultaneous detection and quantification of ß-ODAP and homoarginine by capillary zone electrophoresis in L. cicera and L. sativus seeds. Moreover, several methods of extraction were compared to determine the highest performance.
Asunto(s)
Homoarginina/análisis , Lathyrus/química , Semillas/química , beta-Alanina/análogos & derivados , Animales , Dieta , Proteínas en la Dieta , Electroforesis Capilar/métodos , Homoarginina/efectos adversos , Humanos , Latirismo/etiología , Lathyrus/efectos adversos , beta-Alanina/efectos adversos , beta-Alanina/análisisRESUMEN
Neurolathyrism (NL) is a motor neuron disease characterized by spastic paraparesis in the hind legs. ß-N-oxalyl-l-α,ß-diaminopropionic acid (l-ß-ODAP), a component amino acid of the grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.), has been proposed as the cause of this disease. In our NL rat model, we previously reported that transient intra-parenchymal hemorrhage occurred in the lower spinal cord during the early treatment period. We show here a possible pathological role of the hemorrhage in motor neuron damage and paraparesis pathology. In the lumbo-sacral spinal cord, blood vessel integrity was lost with numerous TdT-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling-positive blood vessel-like structures occurring simultaneously with the hemorrhage. We observed a coincident >10-fold increase in heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) only in the lower spinal cord. The early period of paraparesis in the lower leg was greatly suppressed by pretreatment with zinc protoporphyrin IX, a HO-1 inhibitor. In vitro, l-ß-ODAP was toxic to human umbilical vein endothelial cells compared to l-glutamate. The present data shed light on the role and the mechanism of vascular insult in causing dysfunction and moribund motor neurons in experimental NL.
Asunto(s)
Hemo-Oxigenasa 1/biosíntesis , Hemorragia/complicaciones , Hemorragia/enzimología , Latirismo/etiología , Paraparesia/etiología , Médula Espinal/irrigación sanguínea , Médula Espinal/enzimología , Animales , Vasos Sanguíneos/enzimología , Vasos Sanguíneos/lesiones , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Hemorragia/inducido químicamente , Células Endoteliales de la Vena Umbilical Humana/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Latirismo/patología , Latirismo/fisiopatología , Región Lumbosacra , Neuronas Motoras/enzimología , Neuronas Motoras/patología , Paraparesia/patología , Paraparesia/fisiopatología , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Médula Espinal/patología , beta-Alanina/análogos & derivados , beta-Alanina/toxicidadRESUMEN
Lathyrism is an incurable neurological disorder, resulting from excessive consumption of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus), which clinically manifests as paralysis of lower limbs. Because of the high production of grass peas, a large number of people are expected to be affected by the disease in Northeast Ethiopia. However, there is no comprehensive study that quantified the magnitude of the problem. Therefore, in this study, we determined the prevalence of lathyrism and socioeconomic disparities in Northeast Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was used which used a quantitative method of data collection from January to February 2019. Data were collected from a total of 2,307 inhabitants in the study area using structured questionnaires. Lathyrism cases were identified using a case definition of symmetrical spastic leg weakness, and subacute or insidious onset, with no sensory deficit, and with a history of grass pea consumption before and at the onset of paralysis. The majority (56.8%) of participants were male, and 34.7% were aged 45 years or older. Overall, the prevalence of lathyrism was 5.5%, and it was higher in males (7.9%) than in females (2.5%). Moreover, the prevalence was higher among farmers (7.0%) than merchants (0.3%), very poor economic status (7.2%) than very rich (1.1%), who produced (9.6%) grass pea than not produced (0.9%), and those who used clay pottery (6.2%) than metal (4.8%) for cooking. The prevalence of lathyrism in Northeast Ethiopia is remarkably high. Therefore, we recommend lathyrism to be among the list of reportable health problems and incorporated in the national routine surveillance system.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades Transmitidas por los Alimentos/epidemiología , Latirismo/epidemiología , Lathyrus/envenenamiento , Parálisis/epidemiología , Culinaria/métodos , Estudios Transversales , Etiopía/epidemiología , Femenino , Enfermedades Transmitidas por los Alimentos/etiología , Enfermedades Transmitidas por los Alimentos/patología , Enfermedades Transmitidas por los Alimentos/fisiopatología , Humanos , Latirismo/etiología , Latirismo/patología , Latirismo/fisiopatología , Extremidad Inferior/patología , Extremidad Inferior/fisiopatología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Parálisis/etiología , Parálisis/patología , Parálisis/fisiopatología , Prevalencia , Salud Pública , Factores Socioeconómicos , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
The present study was undertaken to develop an animal model to study neurolathyrism. For this purpose 24 goat (Capra hircus) kids (new born, 15 days old) were divided into four groups. Group I Control, Group II Low toxin (0.17 g% ß-ODAP containing grass pea), Group III high toxin (0.96 g% ß-ODAP containing grass pea) and Group IV high toxin (0.96 g% ß-ODAP containing grass pea flour (powder) fortified with 5 mg% pure ß-ODAP). The experiment was continued for 3 months. Clinical examination was carried out weekly. Muscle conduction velocity (MCV), nerve conduction velocity (NCV), blood and urinary ß-ODAP, nitrite in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination were performed by standard methods. Clinical examination showed neurolathyrism symptoms in three kids. The abnormal MCV and NCV were observed in all the experimental animals. Blood nitrite, blood and urine ß-ODAP levels were significantly increased in experimental groups. Three kids were affected with neurolathyrism due to consumption of grass pea irrespective of its ß-ODAP content and kid may serve as a neurolathyrism model.
Asunto(s)
Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Enfermedades de las Cabras/etiología , Latirismo/veterinaria , Lathyrus/envenenamiento , Síndromes de Neurotoxicidad/veterinaria , Animales , Cabras , Latirismo/etiología , Síndromes de Neurotoxicidad/etiologíaRESUMEN
Environmental factors have been speculated to play an important role in potentiating the neurotoxicity of Lathyrus sativus (LS). Hence, blood-brain barrier permeability and neurotoxicity studies were carried out in manganese- and LS-exposed animals. Dietary feeding of LS (80%) plus Mn (0.4 mg/100 g diet) for 90 days to guinea pigs showed significant (p < 0.05) decrease in brain nucleotidase and ATPase activities when compared to control or LS alone treated groups. Combined treatment of LS and Mn showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in neuronal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (36-40%), ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (40-45%), glutathione-S-transferase (27-31%), and quinone reductase (24-25%) activities when compared to control and LS alone treated animals. Lipid peroxidation, a marker for membrane damage, was found to be relatively more enhanced (58-141%) along with significant (p < 0.05) depletion of GSH levels in LS+Mn-treated animals when compared to control, Mn alone, and LS alone treated groups. The neuronal catalase activity of lathyrus plus Mn-treated animals showed a pronounced decrease (37-49%) when compared to control, Mn, and lathyrus alone treated groups. On the contrary, glutathione peroxidase in brain of Mn and lathyrus alone treated animals indicated a respective increase (p < 0.05) of 18% and 20%, while the combined effect of lathyrus plus Mn exhibited an increase of almost 50% when compared to control guinea pigs. Single parenteral administration of Mn (15 mg/kg b.wt) to guinea pigs followed by single oral intubation of beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha, beta-diamino propionic acid (ODAP, 75 mg/guinea pig) resulted in a significant increase (143%) in neuronal ODAP content. ODAP (50 mg/kg,iv) treatment to mice pretreated with MnCl2 (10 mg/kg b.wt for 3 days or 40 mg/kg b.wt for 1 day), caused an enhancement in blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability (129-196%), while ODAP and Mn alone showed relatively less enhancement (66-87%). The lumbar region of LS+Mn showed a number of vacuolated areas of variegated size and chromatolytic neurons, along with a few degenerated neurons. These results suggest that Mn may potentiate the neurotoxicity of lathyrus/ODAP by altering the BBB permeability.
Asunto(s)
Aminoácidos Diaminos/farmacología , Barrera Hematoencefálica/efectos de los fármacos , Latirismo/etiología , Manganeso/farmacología , Aminoácidos Diaminos/análisis , Animales , Peso Corporal/efectos de los fármacos , Química Encefálica/efectos de los fármacos , Cobayas , Lathyrus , Masculino , Ratones , Tamaño de los Órganos/efectos de los fármacos , Peroxidasas/metabolismoRESUMEN
Diseases of the motor-conducting system that cause moving disability affect socio-economic activity as well as human dignity. Neurolathyrism, konzo, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-parkinsonism-dementia complex (ALS-PDC) have attracted researchers to study the pathology of motor neuron (MN) diseases such as ALS. I have been studying neurolathyrism, which is caused by overconsumption of a legume grass pea (Lathyrys sativus L.). Among people who consume the legume as a food staple, many developed life-long paraparesis in their legs. ß-N-oxalyl-l-α,ß- diaminopropionic (l-ß-ODAP; BOAA), contained in this plant, is a neurotoxic analog of l-glutamic acid. We have clarified that in addition to the causal involvement of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) type glutamatergic receptor in MN death, a toxic role of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors as well as transient receptor potential channels were involved in the MN insult by l-ß-ODAP using primary MN culture. We have also established a neurolathyrism rat model by repeated, peripheral l-ß-ODAP treatment to newborn rats under mild stress. Rats showing hind-leg paraparesis with an incidence rate of around 25% were useful to study the in vivo pathology of MN disease. MNs of these rats were greatly decreased at their lumbo/sacral segments at various ages. Intra-parenchymal hemorrhage was consistently observed in paraparetic rats but not in cripple-free, treated rats. MN were depleted even at an acute period around bleeding spots, suggesting catastrophic neuro-vascular-glial interaction in this MN disease. Summaries of konzo and ALS-PDCs studies are also introduced.
Asunto(s)
Fabaceae/efectos adversos , Latirismo/etiología , Lathyrus/efectos adversos , beta-Alanina/análogos & derivados , Animales , Muerte Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Fabaceae/química , Humanos , Latirismo/patología , Lathyrus/química , Enfermedad de la Neurona Motora/etiología , Enfermedad de la Neurona Motora/patología , Neuronas Motoras/patología , Ratas , Ácido alfa-Amino-3-hidroxi-5-metil-4-isoxazol Propiónico , beta-Alanina/aislamiento & purificación , beta-Alanina/toxicidadRESUMEN
Neurolathyrism is a motor neuron disease that is caused by the overconsumption of grass peas (Lathyrus sativus L.) under stressful conditions. The neuro-excitatory ß-N-oxalyl-L-α,ß-diaminopropionic acid present in grass peas was proposed the causative agent of spastic paraparesis of the legs. Historical reports of neurolathyrism epidemics, studies of neurolathyrism animal models, and in vitro studies on the mechanism of ß-N-oxalyl-L-α,ß-diaminopropionic acid toxicity support the hypothesis that stress increases susceptibility to neurolathyrism. To elucidate the role of stress in neurolathyrism-induced motor dysfunction, we focused on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in a rodent model of neurolathyrism. Our results implicated increased glucocorticoid and neuroinflammation in the motor dysfunction (paraparesis) exhibited by the stress loaded rat models of neurolathyrism.
Asunto(s)
Aminoácidos Diaminos/toxicidad , Sistema Hipotálamo-Hipofisario , Latirismo/etiología , Enfermedad de la Neurona Motora/etiología , Sistema Hipófiso-Suprarrenal , Estrés Psicológico/complicaciones , Hormona Adrenocorticotrópica/sangre , Animales , Corticosterona/sangre , Citocinas/genética , Femenino , Sistema Hipotálamo-Hipofisario/efectos de los fármacos , Latirismo/sangre , Latirismo/genética , Latirismo/patología , Masculino , Enfermedad de la Neurona Motora/sangre , Enfermedad de la Neurona Motora/genética , Enfermedad de la Neurona Motora/patología , Sistema Hipófiso-Suprarrenal/efectos de los fármacos , Ratas Wistar , Médula Espinal/efectos de los fármacos , Médula Espinal/metabolismo , Médula Espinal/patología , Estrés Psicológico/sangre , Estrés Psicológico/genética , Estrés Psicológico/patologíaRESUMEN
Neurolathyrism is a unique neurodegeneration disease caused by ß-N-oxalyl-L-α, ß- diaminopropionic (ß-ODAP) present in grass pea seed (Lathyrus stativus L.) and its pathogenetic mechanism is unclear. This issue has become a critical restriction to take full advantage of drought-tolerant grass pea as an elite germplasm resource under climate change. We found that, in a human glioma cell line, ß-ODAP treatment decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to outside release and overfall of Ca2+ from mitochondria to cellular matrix. Increased Ca2+ in cellular matrix activated the pathway of ECM, and brought about the overexpression of ß1 integrin on cytomembrane surface and the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). The formation of high concentration of FA units on the cell microfilaments further induced overexpression of paxillin, and then inhibited cytoskeleton polymerization. This phenomenon turned to cause serious cell microfilaments distortion and ultimately cytoskeleton collapse. We also conducted qRT-PCR verification on RNA-sequence data using 8 randomly chosen genes of pathway enrichment, and confirmed that the data was statistically reliable. For the first time, we proposed a relatively complete signal pathway to neurolathyrism. This work would help open a new window to cure neurolathyrism, and fully utilize grass pea germplasm resource under climate change.
Asunto(s)
Aminoácidos Diaminos/farmacología , Adhesiones Focales/efectos de los fármacos , Adhesiones Focales/metabolismo , Integrina beta1/metabolismo , Toxinas Biológicas/farmacología , Calcio/metabolismo , Línea Celular , Biología Computacional/métodos , Citoesqueleto/metabolismo , Matriz Extracelular , Adhesiones Focales/genética , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Ontología de Genes , Redes Reguladoras de Genes , Humanos , Integrina beta1/genética , Latirismo/etiología , Latirismo/metabolismo , Potencial de la Membrana Mitocondrial , Mitocondrias/metabolismo , Multimerización de Proteína , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacos , TranscriptomaRESUMEN
We examined the central nervous system of a 67-year-old man who showed symptoms of lathyrism after being imprisoned at age 35 and fed on a diet of chick peas, Lathyrus sativus. The most obvious changes were loss of axons and myelin in the pyramidal tract in the lumbar spinal cord. These alterations correlated with spastic paraparesis. Other changes at the same level were a mild degree of degeneration of anterior horn cells. Pallor of Goll's tracts and axonal swelling in Goll's nuclei were also observed. A few examples of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles were observed in Ammon's horn.
Asunto(s)
Sistema Nervioso Central/patología , Latirismo/patología , Anciano , Fabaceae , Hipocampo/patología , Humanos , Latirismo/etiología , Masculino , Bulbo Raquídeo/patología , Neuronas Motoras/patología , Degeneración Nerviosa , Plantas Medicinales , Tractos Piramidales/patologíaRESUMEN
Lathyrism is a disorder of the central motor system, induced by heavy consumption of the grass-pea, Lathyrus sativus an environmentally tolerant legume containing the neurotoxic excitatory amino acid beta-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine (BOAA). A complete door-to-door resurvey of the Dembia and Fogera regions of northwestern Ethiopia, areas endemic for lathyrism, revealed an estimated mean disease prevalence of 0.6%-2.9%. Most patients developed the disease in the epidemic of 1976/77, although new cases appear to have occurred with an estimated mean annual incidence of 1.7:10,000. Production and consumption of grass-pea is increasing in Ethiopia, making attempts to develop low-BOAA strains to prevent lathyrism increasingly important.
Asunto(s)
Latirismo/epidemiología , Salud Rural , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Niño , Preescolar , Brotes de Enfermedades , Etiopía/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Latirismo/etiología , Latirismo/terapia , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Proyectos Piloto , Estaciones del AñoRESUMEN
An exploratory study was conducted in the rural Estie district of Ethiopia in 1997 to identify the role of ABO blood group, rhesus factor, and type of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) diet in the susceptibility to neurolathyrism. Five-hundred study subjects (250 cases and 250 controls) were examined and interviewed, and had their ABO and rhesus blood groups determined. The majority (86%) of the cases were males. Blood group O was the most common in the patients and controls followed by groups A, B, and AB. The vast majority of the study subjects were rhesus-positive. The gravy (Shiro) grass pea preparation was consumed by 91.6% of the study population, boiled (Nifiro) by 86%, and roasted (Kollo) by 56.4%. Almost half (48%) of the cases had consumed grass pea for > 4 months compared to 8% of controls (P < 0.001). There was a significant association between the risk for neurolathyrism and the consumption of boiled (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 98.4) and roasted (AOR = 55.62) forms of grass pea. There was no risk of paralysis associated with consumption of the gravy form of grass pea (AOR = 0.40, 95% confidence interval 0.1-2.0). Blood group O remained significantly associated with the disease after adjusting for age, type of grass pea preparation consumed, and duration of consumption (AOR = 2.90).
Asunto(s)
Sistema del Grupo Sanguíneo ABO , Dieta/efectos adversos , Trastornos Neurológicos de la Marcha/sangre , Latirismo/sangre , Lathyrus , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Niño , Etiopía , Trastornos Neurológicos de la Marcha/etiología , Humanos , Latirismo/etiología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
Zinc deficiency and oversupply of iron to the roots of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) induce increases in the content of the neurotoxin beta-L-ODAP (3-oxalyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid) in the ripe seeds. The transport of zinc to the shoots is enhanced by the addition of beta-L-ODAP. The neurotoxin of L. sativus is proposed to function as a carrier molecule for zinc ions. Soils, depleted in micronutrients from flooding by monsoon rains (Indian subcontinent) or otherwise poor in available zinc and with high iron content (Ethiopian vertisols), may be responsible for higher incidence of human lathyrism, one of the oldest neurotoxic diseases known to man. A role for brain zinc deficiency in the susceptibility for lathyrism is postulated.
Asunto(s)
Encéfalo/metabolismo , Fabaceae/efectos adversos , Latirismo/etiología , Plantas Medicinales , Semillas , Zinc/deficiencia , Aminoácidos Diaminos/efectos adversos , Aminoácidos Diaminos/análisis , Aminoácidos Diaminos/metabolismo , Transporte Biológico/efectos de los fármacos , Susceptibilidad a Enfermedades , Etiopía/epidemiología , Fabaceae/metabolismo , Humanos , Hierro/metabolismo , Hierro/farmacología , Latirismo/epidemiología , Latirismo/metabolismo , Neurotoxinas/efectos adversos , Neurotoxinas/análisis , Neurotoxinas/metabolismo , Semillas/metabolismo , Suelo/análisis , Zinc/antagonistas & inhibidores , Zinc/farmacocinéticaRESUMEN
Lathyrism is a neurotoxic disorder caused by excessive, prolonged consumption of the hardy, environmentally tolerant legume, the grass-pea, Lathyrus sativus, which contains the neurotoxic amino acid beta-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine acid (BOAA). The disease develops after heavy consumption of grass-pea for over two months. It is uniformly manifested by a predominantly motor spastic paraparesis with varying degrees of disability. A door-to-door epidemiological survey for the disease using trained lay health workers was carried out in the major areas of northwest and central Ethiopia where L. sativus is grown. For security reasons, some of the other endemic areas wre not accessible for the survey. The survey involved a population of 1,011,272. A total of 3,026 affected persons were identified. The disease was found to be widespread in the northwest and central highland areas of the country. The prevalence rates ranged from 1/10,000 to 7.5/1,000. The highest prevalences were in North and South Gonder, and East and West Gojam. The male:female ratio of cases was 2.6:1; the females exhibited a milder form of the disease. The cultivation of L. sativus is increasing in Ethiopia, which makes the development of low-BOAA strains very important in order to control the high incidence of lathyrism, a crippling disease which affects the productive young members of the society.
Asunto(s)
Latirismo/epidemiología , Adolescente , Adulto , Niño , Preescolar , Encuestas sobre Dietas , Etiopía/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Incidencia , Latirismo/etiología , Latirismo/prevención & control , Masculino , Vigilancia de la Población , Prevalencia , Población RuralRESUMEN
Three hundred and thirty three patients in the lathyrism endemic rural Estie district of Northern Ethiopia were interviewed and examined to assess the psychosocial impacts of neurolathyrism. The majority of the affected were in the age group of 11-20 years (43%) followed by 21-30 years (29%). Males were more affected than females (4.8:1). Peak occurrences of neurolathyrism was observed at time of mobilization of the population in villagization and land diversification schemes. Females were affected to lesser extent and at an earlier age than males. Neurolathyrism affected matrimony among the rural farming population where marriage is considered as the most significant social achievement of any young member of the society. Divorce rate due to paralysis was 28%. It also influenced the choice of occupation among the afflicted rural people. Many males went into ecclesiastical professions. A significant number of males also took up occupations which traditionally were considered to be exclusively for women like basketry and embroidery. More females, not withstanding their age, were engaged in cattle-keeping. During the study, the rural communities were made aware of the association of neurolathyrism and consumptions of grass pea seed. It is believed that this step will enable communities to use home-based detoxifying methods and resort to alternate crops during times of food shortage.
Asunto(s)
Costo de Enfermedad , Latirismo/etiología , Latirismo/psicología , Salud Rural , Adolescente , Adulto , Distribución por Edad , Selección de Profesión , Niño , Preescolar , Estudios Transversales , Personas con Discapacidad , Etiopía , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Latirismo/diagnóstico , Masculino , Matrimonio/psicología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Distribución por Sexo , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
Neurolathyrism is associated with a complex pattern of alterations in the glutamatergic system of the cortical motor region of brain. It is a neurological disorder consorted with excessive consumption of Lathyrus sativus (Grass pea), comprising large amounts of the neurotoxin, ß-N-oxalyl-L-α,ß-diaminopropionic acid (ODAP). ODAP being a potent agonist of ionotropic glutamate receptors enhances their activity and also blocks the astrocytic glutamate/cystine transporters, abutting the neurons. This leads to the sustained increase in the concentration of Glutamate in the synapse which triggers excitotoxicity. L. sativus also contains high levels of arginine and homoarginine which are natural substrates of nitric oxide production, when NO levels increases, it forms peroxynitrite radicals which cause irreparable damage to mitochondria and cellular macromolecules leading to motor neuron degeneration. This review brings together all the molecular events reported so far, emphasizing on the possible role of glutamate and nitric oxide mediated cell death.
Asunto(s)
Ácido Glutámico/metabolismo , Latirismo/etiología , Corteza Motora/metabolismo , Enfermedad de la Neurona Motora/etiología , Neuronas Motoras/metabolismo , Degeneración Nerviosa , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Animales , Estrógenos/metabolismo , Glutamato-Cisteína Ligasa/antagonistas & inhibidores , Glutamato-Cisteína Ligasa/metabolismo , Humanos , Latirismo/metabolismo , Latirismo/patología , Mitocondrias/metabolismo , Corteza Motora/patología , Enfermedad de la Neurona Motora/metabolismo , Enfermedad de la Neurona Motora/patología , Neuronas Motoras/patología , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismoRESUMEN
Vetchlings (Lathyrus spp.) are widely distributed in both Serbia and Srpska, and represent a valuable component of local floras all over the Balkan Peninsula. Despite this and the existence of a traditional Serbian name for grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.), sastrica, and a pan-Slavic name for all vetchlings, grahor, today they are almost forgotten crops. The joint action of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops and the Faculty of Agriculture is aimed at re-introducing grass pea and other vetchlings as multifunctional crops. Within the legume collection in the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, a small Lathyrus spp. collection, including about 100 accessions of 16 species, most of them being grass pea, was established in 2002. The landraces of grass pea were collected in several regions of Serbia and Srpska, where they are used for human consumption. Grass pea is commonly used boiled and along with other pulses, with no reports on lathyrism among the local people. The first Serbian breeding programme in Novi Sad produced already two grass pea lines that were registered in November 2009 under the names of Studenica and Sitnica, developed from the crosses of Polish cultivars and local Serbian landraces.