Studies of the effect of 2-Mercaptoethanol on Antisera against Japanese Encephalitis

The sensitivity of 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) on HI antibodies in patients with Japanese encephalitis were studied on 320 patients occurred in Fukuoka Prefecture during 1963-1966. The results obtained are as follows:1. Most of the HI antibodies detected within 3 weeks after onset were found to be 2-ME sensitive, and therafter most of them changed to 2-ME resistant gradually.2. Of 264 patients having detectable HI antibodies within 7 days after onset, 34 sera (12.8%) were found to be 2-ME resistant, and a rise of the titers were observed in 16 cases among them. Thus the findings indicate that, in some cases, HI antibodies may be insufficient to prevent JE virus infection.3. Of 60 mortal cases having HI antibody, 55 (91.6 %) sera obtained within 7 days after onset were found to be 2-ME sensitive, and the remainning 5 2-ME resistant.