To test the hypothesis that Nocardia spp. may be an etiologic factor in Parkinson's disease (PD), we used a serodiagnostic panel to determine if PD patients had antibodies specific for Nocardia spp. To validate the serological test panel, sera from healthy volunteers and from patients with culture-proven nocardiosis (n = 307) were compared in part 1 of the study. The sensitivity of the panel was 88% for detection of culture-proven nocardial infections, and specificity was 85% (excluding cross-reactive leprosy cases). In part 2, no difference in seropositivity was found when PD patients were compared with their age- and gender-matched controls (n = 140). We found a high exposure rate of humans to nocardial antigens, especially among men and older individuals. Our results offer no support to the hypothesis that Nocardia spp. are causative in PD; however, it is possible that serological testing may not be optimal for detection of nocardial central nervous system infection.
BT - Journal of clinical microbiology C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8567923?dopt=Abstract DA - 1995 Oct IS - 10 J2 - J. Clin. Microbiol. LA - eng N2 -To test the hypothesis that Nocardia spp. may be an etiologic factor in Parkinson's disease (PD), we used a serodiagnostic panel to determine if PD patients had antibodies specific for Nocardia spp. To validate the serological test panel, sera from healthy volunteers and from patients with culture-proven nocardiosis (n = 307) were compared in part 1 of the study. The sensitivity of the panel was 88% for detection of culture-proven nocardial infections, and specificity was 85% (excluding cross-reactive leprosy cases). In part 2, no difference in seropositivity was found when PD patients were compared with their age- and gender-matched controls (n = 140). We found a high exposure rate of humans to nocardial antigens, especially among men and older individuals. Our results offer no support to the hypothesis that Nocardia spp. are causative in PD; however, it is possible that serological testing may not be optimal for detection of nocardial central nervous system infection.
PY - 1995 SP - 2768 EP - 9 T2 - Journal of clinical microbiology TI - Nocardia species as an etiologic agent in Parkinson's disease: serological testing in a case-control study. UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC228573/pdf/332768.pdf VL - 33 SN - 0095-1137 ER -