Cold Lymphocytotoxins in Infections and Parasitic Infestations

‘Cold’lymphocytotoxins were studied in sera of viral infections (mumps, influenza, rubella, herpes, infectious mononucleosis), Rickettsia and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections and sera from infestations by toxoplasmosis, by endointestinal parasites and parasites with tissue migration. All sera positive at + 37° C were eliminated. A score was established in order to compare the sera with each other. The frequency of ‘cold’cytotoxins varies according to the type of infection under study. It is especially high in infectious mononucleosis, mumps, Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections and migrating parasite infestations. In these same disorders, the greatest number of high scores can be found (a single exception being the high scores in herpes). According to the serum, cold cytotoxins give every possible score for the same disease. Thus, it would seem that the same antibodies are always involved, but in varying degrees of strength.