Peripheral nervous diseases related with Campylobacter jejuni infection in human and animals

Abstract

Objective To search for the relations between the Campylobacter jejuni (CJ) infection and peripheral nervous diseases both in human and animals, and explore the cause and preventive ways of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) . Methods Epidemiological investigations were carried out in the children with GBS, their family members and the domestic fowls and animals. In the meantime, the following experiments were also performed, stool cultures of CJ, plasmid analysis, specific antibody detection in blood, neuroelectrophysiologic examination, and neuropathology examination. Results Four of ten children with GBS were found with peripheral nervous diseases which related with CJ infection and similar to those in domestic animals. Of them, 2 patients have the same illness as pigs, another two as gooses and ducks, respectively. Four patients appeared the symptoms of GBS one to three weeks after the acroparalyses of domestic fowls and animals. The CJ cultivation in patients' stool was negative. CJ antibody in patients blood was all positive. The electromyogram (EMG) showed decreased velocity of nerve conduction in two patients. Five of six stool samples in the domestic fowls and animals with paralysis were positive for CJ culture. The serum antibodies against CJ were all positive. By nerve biopsies, three of them were revealed demyelination and one have axon degeneration. Conclusion CJ infection could cause peripheral nervous diseases including demyclination and axon degeneration both in human and animals. The prevention and treatment of the CJ infection should be an important way to reduce the morbidity of GBS. Key words: Campylobacter jejuni; Peripheral nervous system diseases; Compylobacter infections; Polyradiculoneuritis