Molluscum contagiosum: serology and electron microscopy findings in twenty one patients

Abstract

SUMMARYTwenty one cases of molluscum contagiosum virus disease were collected for electron microscopical and serological tests. Molluscum virus was detected in the crust, inside the vacuoles formed in the keratinocytes cells.The patients developed specific antibodies to the virus detected by complement fixation test. KEY-WORDS:Molluscum contagiosum virus; Serology; Electron microscopy.

Antibodies to Molluscum Contagiosum Virus in the General Population and Susceptible Patients

“…1,2 In earlier studies, antibodies to MCV were detected in MC patients using crude antigens from pooled MC lesions [3][4][5] or purified virions 6 ; the incidence of viral antibodies has been reported as 9 (43%) of 21 cases in the Ouchterlony method, 3 46 (69%) of 67 in immunofluorescence, 4 and 17 (100%) of 17 in complement fixation. 5 However, an application of these assays to a largescale survey is hampered since many attempts to cultivate MCV in vitro have been unsuccessful, and it is difficult to prepare a large quantity of antigens. 1,2 There is clearly a need for enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using synthetic recombinant proteins as antigens.…”

Scanning electron microscopy of molluscum contagiosum*

“…6 Other authors found nucleus lobulation secondary to compression caused by intracytoplasmatic viral proliferation. 8 …”