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The role of Bordetella pertussis in the development of multiple sclerosis
Mohammad Mahdi Majzoobi1,2, Mohammad Reza Macvandi1, Hamidreza Ghasemi Basir3
1Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
Background:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological disorders which main cause is not identified yet. Some studies mentioned the possible role of infectious agents such as chlamydia pneumonia, mycoplasma and also, B. pertussis via asymptomatic nasopharyngeal colonization. The current study aimed to investigate and compared the serum level of B. pertussis antibody and the rate of nasopharyngeal colonization by this pathogen in subjects with and without MS.
Methods:
In this case-control study, 109 patients with MS and 114 subjects without MS referred to Sina Hospital in Hamadan in 2019 are studied and compared in terms of serum titer of B. pertussis antibody and nasopharyngeal colonization by this bacterium. Colonization was evaluated using culture and real-time PCR techniques. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 with a 95% confidence interval.
Results:
The serum titer of B. pertussis antibody in case and control groups was 37.8 and 35.1%, respectively (P = 0.74). Culture and real-time PCR techniques revealed no case of nasopharyngeal colonization by B. pertussis.
Conclusion:
There was no difference between B. pertussis antibody titer and the rate of nasopharyngeal colonization between both MS patients and the healthy control group. Therefore, it seems that probably B. pertussis has not a role in MS development.
Insights
This study found no significant difference in Bordetella pertussis antibody levels or nasopharyngeal colonization rates between multiple sclerosis patients and healthy controls. These findings suggest B. pertussis may not play a role in multiple sclerosis development.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common neurological disorder with an unidentified cause.
- Infectious agents, including Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis), have been implicated in MS pathogenesis.
- Asymptomatic nasopharyngeal colonization by B. pertussis is a potential route of infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare serum B. pertussis antibody levels in MS patients and controls.
- To investigate and compare nasopharyngeal colonization rates of B. pertussis in MS patients and controls.
- To evaluate the potential role of B. pertussis in the development of MS.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 109 MS patients and 114 healthy controls.
- Serum B. pertussis antibody titers were measured.
- Nasopharyngeal colonization was assessed using culture and real-time PCR.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in serum B. pertussis antibody titers between MS patients (37.8%) and controls (35.1%).
- B. pertussis nasopharyngeal colonization was not detected in either group by culture or real-time PCR.
- Statistical analysis showed no correlation between B. pertussis and MS.
Conclusions:
- B. pertussis antibody titers and nasopharyngeal colonization rates do not differ between MS patients and healthy individuals.
- The study suggests B. pertussis is unlikely to be a causative agent in the development of multiple sclerosis.
- Further research may be needed to explore other potential infectious triggers for MS.
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