Significantly higher frequency of Helicobacter suis in patients with idiopathic parkinsonism than in control patients

Abstract

BackgroundThere is increased proportional mortality from Parkinson's disease amongst livestock farmers. The hypokinesia of Parkinson's disease has been linked to Helicobacter pylori. H. suis is the most common zoonotic helicobacter in man.AimTo compare the frequency of H. suis, relative to H. pylori, in gastric biopsies of patients with idiopathic parkinsonism (IP) and controls from gastroenterology services.MethodsDNA extracts, archived at a Helicobacter Reference Laboratory, from IP patient and gastroenterology service biopsies were examined anonymously for H. suis, using species-specific RT-PCR.ResultsRelative risk of having H. suis in 60 IP patients compared with 256 controls was 10 times greater than that of having H. pylori. In patients with IP and controls, respectively, frequencies of H. suis were 27 (exact binomial 95% C.I. 15, 38) and 2 (0, 3)%, and of H. pylori, 28 (17, 40) and 16 (12, 21)%. Excess of H. suis in IP held when only the antral or corporal biopsy was considered. Of 16 IP patients with H. suis, 11 were from 19 with proven H. pylori eradication, 3 from 17 pre-H. pylori eradication, 2 from 24 H. pylori culture/PCR-negative. Frequency was different between groups (P = 0.001), greatest where H. pylori had been eradicated. Even without known exposure to anti-H. pylori therapy, H. suis was more frequent in IP patients (5/41) than in controls (1/155) (P = 0.002). Partial multilocus sequence typing confirmed that strains from IP patients (6) and control (1) differed from RT-PCR standard strain.ConclusionsGreater frequency of H. suis in idiopathic parkinsonism appears exaggerated following H. pylori eradication. Multilocus sequence testing comparison with porcine strains may clarify whether transmission is from pigs/porcine products or of human-adapted, H. suis-like, bacteria.

Association ofHelicobacter pyloriwith Parkinson's Disease

“…The prevalence in our population is also similar to that in the general Indian population 17. Studies from UK and China have shown that the prevalence of H. pylori is higher among PD patients, suggesting a causal role 1819. Schulz et al20 suggested that H. pylori infection can contribute to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons by increasing cholesterol glucosides in a manner similar to cycad toxins.…”

A novel isolation protocol and probe‐based RT‐PCR for diagnosis of gastric infections with the zoonotic pathogen Helicobacter suis

“…In all replicates, cq-values were generated, suggesting that the limit of detection (LOD) of H. suis DNA using the carR probe-based RT-PCR assay is one GE per PCR. 4,26 To verify the diagnostic specificity of the carR probe-based RT-PCR, DNA samples from several bacteria (Table 1) (Table 1). However, Bustin 18 highlighted that the most sensitive LOD is three GE per PCR assuming a Poisson distribution, a 95% chance of including at least one GE per PCR and one GE detection.…”

“…4,15 In this assay, additional sequencing of the positive PCR amplicons is necessary, as cross-reactivity with host DNA and DNA from other gastric NHPH may occur (unpublished results). 4,15 In this assay, additional sequencing of the positive PCR amplicons is necessary, as cross-reactivity with host DNA and DNA from other gastric NHPH may occur (unpublished results).…”

Meta‐analysis: Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with Parkinson's diseases

“…Neuroinflammation, autoimmunity, and apoptosis that triggered by H. pylori infection seem to contribute to the pathogenesis of PD . A high prevalence of H. pylori infection had been reported in patients with PD . PD patients were three times more likely to be seropositive for H. pylori compared with controls, and their siblings were also more inclined to be both seropositive and show parkinsonism symptom .…”