Multiple sclerosis--one manifestation of neurobrucellosis? 1990

T G Murrell, and B J Matthews
Department of Community Medicine, University of Adelaide, South Australia.

There is good geographic evidence that an environmental factor is implicated in the aetiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). Controversy surrounds the interpretation of many studies supporting notions on whether the disease has greater prevalence in urban or rural communities. Rather than focus on residence at birth, in teenage years or at the time of study, analyses of MS mortality by occupation and a case control study to define exposure to animal farm products is thought to shed light in this controversy. The conclusion reached from the results of these studies is that exposure to farm animals or raw products is a common denominator in the aetiology of MS. A literature search for references of zoonotic disease with neurological symptoms produced a range of papers on brucellosis. A study of the literature on neurobrucellosis supports the hypothesis on clinical grounds. Finally, blood serum studies of Brucella exposure in a series of MS subjects and controls is described. These epidemiological studies support the hypothesis, that central nervous system involvement from exposure to brucellosis, may present with the features of multiple sclerosis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009103 Multiple Sclerosis An autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RELAPSING-REMITTING), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE) also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p903) MS (Multiple Sclerosis),Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating,Sclerosis, Disseminated,Disseminated Sclerosis,Sclerosis, Multiple
D009784 Occupational Diseases Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment. Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D002006 Brucellosis Infection caused by bacteria of the genus BRUCELLA mainly involving the MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTE SYSTEM. This condition is characterized by fever, weakness, malaise, and weight loss. Malta Fever,Undulant Fever,Brucella Infection,Brucellosis, Pulmonary,Cyprus Fever,Gibraltar Fever,Rock Fever,Brucella Infections,Brucelloses,Brucelloses, Pulmonary,Fever, Cyprus,Fever, Gibraltar,Fever, Malta,Fever, Rock,Fever, Undulant,Infection, Brucella,Pulmonary Brucelloses,Pulmonary Brucellosis
D004781 Environmental Exposure The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents in the environment or to environmental factors that may include ionizing radiation, pathogenic organisms, or toxic chemicals. Exposure, Environmental,Environmental Exposures,Exposures, Environmental
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015995 Prevalence The total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time. It is differentiated from INCIDENCE, which refers to the number of new cases in the population at a given time. Period Prevalence,Point Prevalence,Period Prevalences,Point Prevalences,Prevalence, Period,Prevalence, Point,Prevalences
D016022 Case-Control Studies Comparisons that start with the identification of persons with the disease or outcome of interest and a control (comparison, referent) group without the disease or outcome of interest. The relationship of an attribute is examined by comparing both groups with regard to the frequency or levels of outcome over time. Case-Base Studies,Case-Comparison Studies,Case-Referent Studies,Matched Case-Control Studies,Nested Case-Control Studies,Case Control Studies,Case-Compeer Studies,Case-Referrent Studies,Case Base Studies,Case Comparison Studies,Case Control Study,Case Referent Studies,Case Referrent Studies,Case-Comparison Study,Case-Control Studies, Matched,Case-Control Studies, Nested,Case-Control Study,Case-Control Study, Matched,Case-Control Study, Nested,Case-Referent Study,Case-Referrent Study,Matched Case Control Studies,Matched Case-Control Study,Nested Case Control Studies,Nested Case-Control Study,Studies, Case Control,Studies, Case-Base,Studies, Case-Comparison,Studies, Case-Compeer,Studies, Case-Control,Studies, Case-Referent,Studies, Case-Referrent,Studies, Matched Case-Control,Studies, Nested Case-Control,Study, Case Control,Study, Case-Comparison,Study, Case-Control,Study, Case-Referent,Study, Case-Referrent,Study, Matched Case-Control,Study, Nested Case-Control

Related Publications

T G Murrell, and B J Matthews
January 1989, European neurology,
T G Murrell, and B J Matthews
October 1990, Anales de medicina interna (Madrid, Spain : 1984),
T G Murrell, and B J Matthews
October 2015, Journal francais d'ophtalmologie,
T G Murrell, and B J Matthews
November 1952, Journal of the American Medical Association,
T G Murrell, and B J Matthews
January 1999, Revista de neurologia,
T G Murrell, and B J Matthews
February 1999, Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America,
T G Murrell, and B J Matthews
September 2014, Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft,
T G Murrell, and B J Matthews
January 2003, Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society,
T G Murrell, and B J Matthews
December 2011, Epileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape,
T G Murrell, and B J Matthews
January 1985, Annales de medecine interne,
Copied contents to your clipboard!