Bordetella parapertussis evolved in a host population that had already developed immunity to "B. pertussis", where being able to evade "B. pertussis" immunity was an advantage. Two lineages of "B. parapertussis" have been described. The first infects humans and is responsible for a minority of cases of the disease pertussis (also known as whooping cough). The second, ovine, lineage causes chronic nonprogressive pneumonia in sheep. Both lineages are thought to have evolved from a "B. bronchiseptica"-like ancestor. This disease can be symptomatic or asymptomatic and may predispose hosts to secondary infection. Bordetella parapertussis Bordetella parapertussis is a small Gram-negative bacterium of the
Unverricht–Lundborg disease ULD, MRIs taken once the disease has progressed show characteristic damage, which may help to correct a misdiagnosis. While ULD is a rare disease, the lack of well defined cases to study and the difficulty in confirming diagnosis provide strong evidence that this disease is likely under diagnosed. Unverricht–Lundborg disease is also known as EPM1, as it is a form of progressive myoclonic epilepsy (PME). Other progressive myoclonic epilepsies include myoclonus epilepsy and ragged red fibers (MERRF syndrome), Lafora disease (EPM2a or EMP2b), Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) and sialidosis. Progressive myoclonic epilepsies generally constitute only a small percentage of epilepsy