Mumps-specific cross-neutralization by MMR vaccine-induced antibodies predicts protection against mumps virus infection

The reduced neutralization of wild type mumps virus strains in MMR vaccinated persons prior to infection indicates that pre-outbreak mumps virus neutralization is partly strain-specific and that neutralization differs between infected and non-infected persons. Therefore, we recommend the use of wild type mumps virus neutralization assays as preferred tool for surveillance of protection against mumps virus infection.