Comparison of Quantitations of Viral Load in Varicella and Zoster

Abstract

The pathogenesis of varicella and zoster and the effects of antiviral treatment were investigated using realtime PCR for varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA in skin lesions and peripheral blood. A higher occurrence of viremic VZV DNA was observed in varicella than in zoster. Acyclovir treatment resulted in marked suppression of viremia in varicella.

Prolonged varicella viraemia and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome following varicella vaccination of a health care worker

“…In a study of primary varicella infection, wild‐type virus was not detected more than 8 days after the onset of rash, nor in any patient who received aciclovir 5 . Another study was unable to detect virus more than 14 days after onset of illness 6 . In contrast, in our patient, viraemia persisted for 54 days and the Oka VZV strain was detectable after aciclovir treatment.…”

Retrospective analysis of varicella zoster virus (VZV) copy DNA numbers in plasma of immunocompetent patients with herpes zoster, of immunocompromised patients with disseminated VZV disease, and of asymptomatic solid organ transplant recipients

“…The mean VZV copy number in this group of immunocompetent patients was 1710 (SEM±1018, range 185–10,654), which was 1 log higher than reported by de Jong et al (1). This difference may result from different blood sampling times (10, 13) or from differences in the assays (1, 14). In agreement with de Jong et al (1) in patients with disseminated herpes zoster and primary varicella zoster infection VZV DNA levels were about 1 log higher than in patients with monodermal herpes zoster (Fig.…”

“…Analysis of plasma samples by quantitative PCR based on TaqMan ® chemistry (8, 9) enabled us to examine VZV DNA copy numbers in different clinical settings. So far only few studies have used this newer technology to describe different levels of VZV DNA in patients with monodermal or multidermal herpes zoster (1), varicella (1, 10), or visceral VZV disease (11, 12). No data are available about the role of quantitative PCR (qPCR) for VZV in adult transplant patients.…”

Manipulation of the Innate Immune Response by Varicella Zoster Virus

“…VZV viremia is associated with primary VZV infection and reactivation, and the interaction between VZV and mononuclear cells during these stages of infection has been well-documented (139)(140)(141); reviewed in White and Gilden (142). VZV DNA is observable in many mononuclear cell subsets, although few were extensively characterized (19,(143)(144)(145)(146).…”