[Frequency of Bordetella pertussis antibodies in serum of patients with Parkinson's disease].

The assessment of the levels of IgG antibodies against Bordetella pertussis in serum using ELISA test was performed in 59 patients (including 30 patients with Parkinson's disease--PD, 15 patients with other non-inflammatory neurological diseases, and 14 controls). The average age in the groups was 64.0, 64.4, and 58.7 years, respectively. Positive results were found in 17/30 patients with PD, 8/15 subjects with other non-inflammatory neurological diseases and in 7/14 controls. The above results are surprising and demonstrate a high incidence of subclinical whooping cough among the adult population. No statistically significant difference has been found between patients with Parkinson's disease and patients with other neurological diseases. A tendency is observed for a higher percentage of negative results among controls in comparison with patients with Parkinson's disease and other non-inflammatory neurological diseases.