Serological studies with human papova (wart) virus

Abstract

Methods for demonstrating antibody to wart virus by complement fixation and passive haemagglutination tests are described and compared with the precipitin test of Almeida & Goffe (1965). The results reveal the much greater sensitivity of the passive haemagglutination method, particularly in the detection of the immunoglobulin M class of antibody. Both complement-fixing and precipitating antibody were detected in sera from patients whose warts had undergone a spontaneous resolution.The presence of antibody to wart virus was demonstrated in sera from persons who had had warts up to 10 years previously, and in a few cases from those who thought they had never had warts.The antigenic identity of virus from hand warts and plantar warts of the simple and mosaic types was revealed, and some evidence was obtained for similar identity of the virus from genital warts.