Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is one of the eight herpesviruses that infects humans. The virus causes two diseases, varicella (chickenpox) and zoster (shingles) (1). Varicella is primarily an illness of children, although as many as 5% of adults in the United States may be susceptible. Zoster is caused by reactivation of latent VZV infection in sensory ganglia, which resulted during the attack o...

The varicella zoster virus is the causative agent of herpes zoster and varicella. In herpes zoster, the virus dormant within dorsal root ganglia is reactivated, resulting in painful vesicular lesions overlying an erythematous base.

BACKGROUND Although intravenous acyclovir therapy is recommended for varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection in immunocompromised children, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of VZV infection in the acyclovir era have rarely been reported. METHODS The medical records of children diagnosed with varicella or herpes zoster virus, who had underlying hematologic malignancies, were retrospect...

Pooled monoclonal antibodies to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) were used as "detector" antibodies in a four-phase enzyme immunofluorescence assay for determination of immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgA, and IgG antibodies to VZV. Polyclonal antisera specific for heavy chains of human IgM, IgA, and IgG were employed as "capture" antibodies on the solid phase. The antibody class capture assay (ACCA) for V...

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella, establishes a life-long latent infection of ganglia and reactivates to cause herpes zoster. The cell types that transport VZV from the respiratory tract to skin and ganglia during primary infection are unknown. Clinical, pathological, virological and immunological features of simian varicella virus (SVV) infection of non-human primates parallel tho...

The Varicella Zoster virus, analpha virus can present in two distinct forms. The primary infection, chicken pox or varicella, is a contagious but usually benign illness that occurs in epidemics among the susceptible children. After the initial infection, the virus remains dormant until there is a reactivation, leading to the secondary form of disease called Herpes Zoster. Herpes Zoster (HZ) is ...

We used the recently developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibody to varicella-zoster virus to study the prevalence and titers of virus-specific antibody in a south Indian population of 171 individuals 0 to 25 years old. The antibody prevalence rate was less than 15% in individuals under 5 years of age and gradually rose to a maximum of 72% in young adults 15 to 25 years of age. The...

Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) from the dorsal sensory ganglia or the cranial nerve ganglia after a previous primary infection with chickenpox. It is known that pediatric zoster rarely occurs and usually not so severe when it develops, except in immunocompromised children 1) . In particular, herpes zoster in infancy is very rare but can be developed foll...

Chicken pox is a self-limited exanthematous disease that primarily affects children. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) has been considered to be the causative agent. VZV infections manifest as varicella and herpes zoster usually cause mild infections, without any severe complications in immunocompetent children [1]. However, in certain individuals with immunocompromised status, the infection may sho...

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection has not often been related to the development of Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS). However, the close temporal relationship noted between varicella infection and the onset of GBS suggests the participation of VZV in the etiopathogenesis of GBS. Very few cases have been reported showing this relationship. This report describes 2 cases highly suggestive of this...