Natural antibodies in sera of mink before and after the development of aleutian disease (viral plasmacytosis).

The effect of infection of mink with aleutian disease virus on the level of natural antibodies in the serum was investigated. The level of natural antibodies to chicken red blood cells was increased following infection but there was no correlation between the degree of hypergamma globulinemia in the diseased mink and the increase in titers. On the other hand, serum levels of natural hemolytic antibodies to sheep red blood cells in mink did not increase during the course of aleutian disease. These data indicate that the aleutian disease virus does not stimulate a broad spectrum of pre-existing antibody producing cells.