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SUMMARYThe indirect immunofluorescence technique has been used to titrate the specific immunoglobulins in 200 sera from 64 patients with varicella, and 195 sera from 67 patients with herpes zoster. IgG and IgM antibodies were detected in all patients with varicella, and IgA in 59 (92 %). All three classes of antibody appeared 2-5 days after the onset of the rash, increased virtually simultaneously and reached maximum titres during the second and third weeks. IgG then declined slowly, but never became undetectable and was still present in five subjects who were retested after 2-4 years; it was present in 88 out of 100 healthy young adults and probably persists indefinitely after varicella. IgA and IgM antibodies declined more rapidly and were not detected in specimens taken more than a year after the illness. IgA, however, may possibly persist in some cases since low titres were found in 8 out of 88 young adults who possessed IgG antibody and had presumably had varicella in the past. IgA responses were significantly weaker in children under the age of 6 years than in older children and adults.Six out of 67 patients with zoster were tested at various times before the onset of the rash: IgG antibody was detected in all. IgG was present in all sera taken after the onset of the rash, increased rapidly after 2-5 days, reached maximum titres during the second and third weeks and then declined slowly. IgA antibody was detected in 66 patients (99 %) and IgM in 52 (78 %); both types of antibody followed transient courses, as in varicella.Maximum titres of IgG and complement-fixing antibodies were greater after zoster than after varicella, but the differences were not significant. IgA and IgM titres in young adults with zoster were significantly lower than in older patients, and also lower than in young adults with varicella.Increases in varicella-zoster antibody in patients with herpes simplex virus infections consisted mainly of IgG, sometimes IgA, but never IgM.

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SUMMARYThe indirect immunofluorescent technique has been used to study the specific immunoglobulin responses in twelve adult cases of acute uncomplicated rubella. IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies increased virtually simultaneously. IgG antibody persisted throughout the period of study but showed a slight tendency to fall in titre after 7 months. IgM antibody was detected in nine cases. In these patients it was present in high titre 5-15 days after the rash but was not detected after 20 days. IgA antibody was detected in all cases. It was present in high titre 5-20 days after the rash but was no longer detectable after 29 days except in one patient who had a very low titre at 78 days. The presence of specific IgA and IgM indicates recent rubella in uncomplicated cases, and if the immunofluorescent method is used both types of antibody should be sought.

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