GABAERGIC AND GLUTAMATERGIC DYSFUNCTION ASSOCIATED WITH NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS IN EXPERIMENTAL CEREBRAL MALARIA

Among the several complications resulted from Plasmodium falciparum infection, cerebral malaria is responsible for the highest death rate especially in children under 5 years old. Persistent neurologic sequelae, including motor skills, visual coordination, cognitive impairment, seizures and hyperactivity disorder, occur in up to 25% of paediatric survivors. Although vascular and hemorrhagic events are associated with neurological changes in CM, little is known about the neurochemistry mechanism involved in the neurological impairment of disease. Glutamate (GLU) and γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) are, respectively, the major excitatory and inhibitory, neurotransmitters in the CNS and the imbalance in glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses are closely linked to cognitive and motor neuropathologies generally observed in CM.