Schematic Depiction of Hypothesized Causal Pathway Between Occupational Exposure to Poultry, Swine, or Cattle and Development of Autoimmune Peripheral Neuropathy.

Farmers and others who work with animals may be occupationally exposed to the avian commensal bacterium Campylobacter jejuni, which may result in infection and immune response. Molecular mimicry, or similarity in structure, between lipo-oligosaccharides (LOS) of C. jejuni bacteria and epitopes of human gangliosides may lead to the proliferation of anti-ganglioside autoantibodies and subsequent symptoms of autoimmune peripheral neuropathy.