Fluorescent Complement Fixation Technique

IgM class antitreponemal antibody in treated and untreated syphilis.

“…Matuhasi, Mizuoka, and Usui (1966), Kiraly, Bachhausz, Jobbagy, Lajos, and Kovats (1968), Julian, Logan, and Norins (1969), and Atwood and Miller (1969) studied antibodies in syphilis using IFA methods, and are in general agreement that while reactivity in fluorescent treponemal antibody (FTA) tests is due mainly to IgG class antitreponemal antibody, antibodies of IgM and IgA classes also contribute. IgM class antitreponemal antibody, in particular, was present in nearly all sera from cases of early syphilis examined by these workers, but often absent or present only in small amounts in sera obtained later in the disease.…”

Immunology of Syphilis

“…Eberson (73) and Turner (74) (27), have been used in this laboratory to show that antibodies within all three major human immuno globulin classes (IgG, IgA, IgM) react with T. paUidum, and that antibodies of the IgG class predominate in early syphilis (78,79). The relationship of these antibodies to immunity has not been determined.…”