Virus-specific and anticellular antibodies in molluscum contagiosum.

Sera from patients with molluscum contagiosum showed a higher incidence of anticellular and fibrillar anticellular antibodies of IgM class as compared to sera from control subjects. Most patients with anticellular IgM antibodies also had molluscum contagiosum virus-specific antibodies. In a comparative study, there was a higher incidence of anticellular IgM antibodies to normal human epidermis and fibrillar anticellular IgM antibodies in molluscum contagiosum than in warts of psoriasis. The incidence in psoriasis was lower than warts and was similar to that found in control subjects.