Leukocyte-Transforming Agent: Prolonged Excretion by Patients with Mononucleosis and Excretion by Normal Individuals

Abstract

The leukocyte-transforming agent was found in the pharyngeal secretions of 75% of 36 patients with infectious mononucleosis (1M), 18% of 27 persons with acute illness other than 1M, and 27% of 11 healthy persons. Five of 12 patients with 1M were still excreting the agent three to 12 months after onset of illness. When the pharyngeal secretion was tested at intervals throughout the course of illness instead of only once at the time of admission, all five patients with 1M whose first throat washing was negative were shown to excrete the transforming agent at sometime in the course of illness.