In addition to the bloodborne pathogens (BBPs) — human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) — other viruses of concern in the dental office include rubella, mumps and measles viruses; the herpes viruses (herpes simplex virus [HSV] types 1 and 2, varicella-zoster, Epstein-Barr virus [EBV], cytomega lovirus and human herpes virus 6); human papilloma viruses; ad...

Immunocompromised patients are known to be at risk for varicella-zoster virus reactivation, often in atypical manners. We describe a 30-year-old man with simultaneous involvement of the retina, optic chiasm, and optic nerve with varicella-zoster virus who had a bitemporal visual field defect.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) pneumonitis and brainstem encephalitis developed in an immunocompetent adult without rash. Chest computed tomography exhibited nodularity; lung biopsy revealed multinucleated giant cells, Cowdry A inclusions, VZV antigen, and DNA. Varicella zoster virus central nervous system disease was verified by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) anti-VZV IgG antibody with reduced serum/...

Fragments of varicella zoster virus DNA produced by EcoRI endonuclease cleavage were cloned in vector pACYC 184 and those produced by HindIII cleavage were cloned in pBR322. Restriction enzyme cleavage maps established by double digestion and blot hybridization showed that varicella zoster virus DNA has a Mr of 80 +/- 3 x 10(6) and exists as a population of two isomers.

The authors describe an acyclovir-resistant varicella zoster virus infection in a pediatric patient after hematopoietic stem cell transplant, the use of foscarnet as salvage therapy, and review the literature to clarify the pediatric experience with foscarnet in this setting. A novel thymidine kinase mutation is described, along with a new phenotypic assay for characterizing acyclovir resistanc...

Herpes zoster (shingles) is rare in children with no history of chickenpox but can occur when their mothers are infected with the virus during pregnancy. In such cases, herpes zoster generally presents after the first year of life after maternal immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies have disappeared from the child’s blood. Disseminated pediatric herpes zoster is an unusual condition. We present the ...

1. Straus SE, Ostrove JM, Inchauspe G et al. NIH conference. Varicellazoster virus infections. Biology, natural history, treatment, and prevention. Ann Intern Med 1988; 108: 221–237 2. Schmader K. Herpes zoster in older adults. Clin Infect Dis 2001; 32: 1481–1486 3. Buchbinder SP, Katz MH, Hessol NA et al. Herpes zoster and human immunodeficiency virus infection. J Infect Dis 1992; 166: 1153–11...

Herpes zoster (shingles) is rare in children with no history of chickenpox but can occur when their mothers are infected with the virus during pregnancy. In such cases, herpes zoster generally presents after the first year of life after maternal immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies have disappeared from the child’s blood. Disseminated pediatric herpes zoster is an unusual condition. We present the ...

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a common disease in the elderly population that is caused by reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus. Its manifestations and complications can lead to significant short- and long-term morbidity. In 2006, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved Zoster Vaccine Live (Zostavax) for the prevention of herpes zoster in immunocompetent adu...

Infections are rare but important causes of stroke. Among these, varicella zoster virus has been known to cause ischemic stroke. During an attack of herpes zoster ophthalmicus, it has been hypothesized that the virus replicates in the trigeminal ganglion and travels via the trigeminal nerve centrally to cause cerebral vasculopathy. Here we present a case of a 69 year-old Caucasian immunocomprom...