BACKGROUND: Previous controversy was generated over the hypothesis that a 
paramyxovirus such as measles or vaccination against such viruses might be 
causally associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to determine 
if Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) subjects are more likely to 
be seropositive for measles, mumps, or rubella than controls.
METHODS: Using our population-based University of Manitoba IBD Research Registry 
we recruited CD (n = 235) and UC (n = 137) subjects ages 18-50 years for a study 
involving detailed questionnaires and venipuncture. We accessed the 
population-based databases of Manitoba Health (single provincial health insurer) 
to get age-, gender-, and geography-matched non-IBD controls (n = 310). We used 
a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure serum 
antibodies.
RESULTS: Seropositivity for measles and mumps was similar in controls (98.1%, 
78.4%, respectively) as in CD (96.2%, 72.3% respectively) and in UC (95.5%, 
74.6%, respectively). However, controls were significantly more likely to be 
seropositive for rubella (98.1%) than were CD cases (91.0%, P < 0.0002) or UC 
cases (93.3%, P = 0.01). Males accounted for the significantly lower rates of 
seropositivity to rubella with CD. While we determined that significantly more 
controls than CD were vaccinated, we cannot be sure if the increased rate of 
rubella seropositivity in controls is secondary to wildtype or 
vaccine-associated infection.
CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest there is no association of having acquired 
measles, mumps, or rubella (by natural infection or through vaccination) and CD 
or UC. If anything, these data may suggest some protective effect of having 
acquired rubella infection or vaccine against acquiring CD.