Mumps Virus Neutralizing Antibody in Saliva Following Natural Infection

Abstract

Fifteen out of twenty patients with natural mumps have developed a rise of mumps virus neutralizing antibody in saliva. Except several cases, the time when the salivary neutralizing antibody titer reached the maximum, almost coincided with convalescence of parotitis. The main class of immunoglobulin showing neutralizing activity was IgA. It is suggested that this IgA antibody is produced in salivary glands, and have an important role in suppression of mumps virus proliferation in salivary glands and in preventing the excretion of the virus into saliva.