ABSTRACT
Multiple Sclerosis [MS] is demylinative, degenerative neurological disease lead to severe handicap morbidity worldwide with a peak incidence in middle age group [25-50 years]. In Iraq, MS is one of increasing incidence and prevalence diseases especially after Gulf war [about 1500 case till February 2011]. lthough the oral microbiological flora of such patients not evaluated clearly, therefore this study was conducted to investigate the oral cavity flora from MS patients in comparison to normal healthy control and evaluate the differences between them and the possible relation with MS causative agent. This study was conducted on 57 immunocompetant MS patients who were attending the MS center in Baghdad Teaching Hospital in Baghdad Medical City and 114 healthy controls were attending the Central Blood Bank in Baghdad Medical City between 22 Feb 2011 to 5 Apr 2011. The obtained data was analyzed and the results were tabulated. The majority of isolated organism among 57 MS patients was C. albicans 35% [20 out of 57], Gram positive streptococcus 17.5% [10 out of 57], C. guillermondii 10.5% [6 out of 57], Sercina bacteria 7% [4 out of 57], C. famata 5.2% [3 of 57], Staphylococcus aureus 5.2% [3 of 57], Gram positive bacilli 3.5% [2 out of 57] and C. kruise, C. parapsilosis and Diplococcic in 1.7% [1 out of 57] for each. The majority among controls showed no growth 58.8% [67 out of 114] flowed by Sercina bacteria 19.3% [22 out of 114], Gram positive streptococcus 4.39% [5 out of 114], C. albicans 7% [8 out of 114], C. guillermondii 2.6% [3 out of 114] then Staphylococcus aureus, and Gram positive bacilli, C. kruise, C. parapsilosis in 1.75% [2 out of 114] for each. The C. albicans was the main isolate from oral cavity of MS patients while most of oral swabs from healthy controls were showed no growth. These changes in normal flora distribution of MS patients should not be underestimated and can be of benefits for evaluation of MS causative agents