Bacteria and EBV as triggers of MS

Epub ahead of print: Cossu D, Masala S, Cocco E, Paccagnini D, Frau J, Marrosu MG, Sechi LA. Are Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis and Epstein-Barr virus triggers of multiple sclerosis in Sardinia? Mult Scler J. 2012 Jan


Sardinia acts as an ideal setting for MS studies because its prevalence of MS is one of the highest worldwide. Several pathogens have been investigated amongst 119 Sardinian MS patients and 117 healthy controls to determine whether they might have a role in triggering MS in genetically predisposed individuals. Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP; a bacteria or microbe that is related to TB) and Epstein Barr virus DNA were detected in 27.5% and 17.3%, respectively, of the MS patients, compared to 6.3% and 4.5% in normal controls.


EBV
Moreover an extremely high antibody response against MAP recombinant protein MAP FprB (similar to the human myelin protein P0) was observed, whereas no significant results were found against the FprA from TB and HP986 protein from the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers (Helicobacter pylori).

Mycobacterium avium
"What does this mean? Without additional studies very little. These findings do not necessarily imply causation. Numerous other studies will need to be done to understand the significance of these results. This is why I always stress Bardford-Hill's criteria for causation; they provide a well-established framework for thinking about possible causative factors in MS."


Please see:



21 Aug 2011
EBV & Bradford-Hill. Re: Curious Orange's post on "An EBV controversy": "Hello, in a previous thread you mentioned that in adult MS, EBV is found in 99.9% of cases. This struck me as an amazing statistic, then I googled a bit ...

Labels: