Serological studies on 40 cases of mumps virus infection

The results of serological study of 40 cases of mumps virus infection are presented. Mumps virus was isolated from 20 of the patients studied and antibodies to the V antigen, the S antigen, and the haemagglutination antigen were performed in all cases. Analysis of these results shows that estimation of all three types of antibody is necessary to confirm the diagnosis in the maximum number of instances and that the long-accepted view that a characteristic pattern of antibody response is typical of the acute illness (namely, anti-S appearing earlier and in greater titre than anti-V) is questionable.