In countries where
poliomyelitis has been eradicated,
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the leading cause of acute flaccid
paralysis. The range of
infections that precede GBS in
Brazil is unknown.
Campylobacter jejuni infection is the most frequent trigger of GBS worldwide. Given the lack of systematic
surveillance of diarrheal
diseases, particularly in
adults, the
incidence of
enteritis caused by C. jejuni in
developing countries is unknown. From 2014 to 2016, pretreatment
serum samples from 63 GBS
patients were tested by
immunoglobulin M (
IgM)
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for C. jejuni.
Campylobacter jejuni IgM antibodies were detected in 17% (11/63) of the samples. There was no
association between serological positivity (
IgM) for C. jejuni and the occurrence of
diarrhea among the investigated cases (P = 0.36).
Hygiene measures,
basic sanitation, and precautions during handling and preparation of
food of
animal origin may help prevent acute flaccid
paralysis.