Demonstration of a Toxin in Mumps Virus and Its Dissociation from Infective and Hemagglutinating Properties

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Abstract
Summary: In controlled experiments, a hitherto underscribed lethal viral toxin has been demonstrated, employing neonatal mice intravenously injected with mumps vaccine. Unlike other viral toxins, in the system employed, toxicity is demonstrable with formalin inactivated mumps vaccine, as well as with infective preparations. Although related to initial viral concentration and age of the vaccines used, the toxicity observed is a property distinct from the hemagglutinin or infectious content of the preparations used. The observed toxicity is prevented by mumps antisera, but not appreciably by normal sera. Intravenous injection of neonatal mice may be a valuable tool for the study of viral toxins.