Anti-deoxyribonucleic acid antibody associated with persistent infection of mink with Aleutian disease virus.

Anti-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) antibody was quantitated in sera from mink infected with Aleutian disease virus (ADV). During the course of the disease after experimental infection, the amount of anti-DNA antibody increased 60% initially, but then decreased to an intermediate level when measured 2.5 months later. The percentage of serum immunoglobulin, however, steadily increased over 3.5-fold during this period, resulting in the characteristic gammopathy. Correlation between the level of anti-DNA antibody and hypergammaglobulinemia was demonstrated with sera from chronically infected mink. Competition experiments and use of labeled nucleic acids indicated that the immunoactivity was more specific for double-stranded DNA than single-stranded DNA or ribonucleic acid. Anti-DNA antibody was found in purified immunoglobulin from chronically infected mink. Differences in avidity of antibody to DNA among antisera that had the same equivalence point were found. Avidity of antibody for DNA increased during the course of the disease.