Factors influencing quantitative isolation of varicella-zoster virus

Levin, M J; Leventhal, Shanna; Masters, H A

doi:10.1128/jcm.19.6.880-883.1984

Cited by 32 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Relatively poor stability of HSV-2 isolates over HSV-1 in both UniTranz-RT TM and UVT observed by us is similar to the observations reported by others [Jensen and Johnson, 1994]. We found a general trend of gradual loss of VZV viability as a function of storage period in either transport media and others also reported similar results [Levin et al, 1984].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Performance evaluation of Puritan® universal transport system (UniTranz-RT™) for preservation and transport of clinical viruses

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The ability of a non-propagating microbial transport medium to maintain the viability of clinically relevant viruses was compared to a similar commercial medium to establish performance equivalence. Two dilutions of stock of test viruses, namely adenovirus (AdV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), echovirus Type 30 (EV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2, influenza A, parainfluenza 3 (PIV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and varicella zoster virus (VZV), were spiked into Puritan® Medical Products Company Universal Transport System (UniTranz-RT™) and BD(TM) Universal Viral Transport System (UVT) and incubated at 4 °C and room temperature (RT) for up to 72 hr. Post incubation assessment of recovery of AdV, EV, HSV-2, PIV, and VZV from UniTranz-RT™ and UVT using shell vial assays followed by immunofluorescence staining demonstrated statistically significant differences between both transport media. In general, significantly higher recoveries of AdV, EV, and VZV were found from UniTranz-RT™ than UVT whereas HSV-2 and PIV were recovered better from UVT than UniTranz-RT™, under specific test conditions. The recovery of HSV-1, influenza A, PIV, and RSV showed no significant differences between transport media. Sulforhodamine B-based assay analysis of UniTranz-RT™ lots prior to and at expiration exhibited no cytotoxicity. The overall results of the study validate the full performance of UniTranz-RT™ as a viral transport medium and establish its effectiveness on par with the UVT.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Performance evaluation of Puritan® universal transport system (UniTranz-RT™) for preservation and transport of clinical viruses

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Adverse conditions during transport may reduce the ability of the laboratory to recover infectious virus from clinical specimens (170). The specimen should be kept on dry ice or frozen at Ϫ70ЊC or below if storage for more than a few hours is required, because VZV is temperature sensitive; storing the specimen at Ϫ20ЊC for 24 h or longer usually inactivates the virus (95).…”

Section: Virologic Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Varicella-zoster virus

1996

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a ubiquitous human alphaherpesvirus that causes varicella (chicken pox) and herpes zoster (shingles). Varicella is a common childhood illness, characterized by fever, viremia, and scattered vesicular lesions of the skin. As is characteristic of the alphaherpesviruses, VZV establishes latency in cells of the dorsal root ganglia. Herpes zoster, caused by VZV reactivation, is a localized, painful, vesicular rash involving one or adjacent dermatomes. The incidence of herpes zoster increases with age or immunosuppression. The VZV virion consists of a nucleocapsid surrounding a core that contains the linear, double-stranded DNA genome; a protein tegument separates the capsid from the lipid envelope, which incorporates the major viral glycoproteins. VZV is found in a worldwide geographic distribution but is more prevalent in temperate climates. Primary VZV infection elicits immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgA antibodies, which bind to many classes of viral proteins. Virus-specific cellular immunity is critical for controlling viral replication in healthy and immunocompromised patients with primary or recurrent VZV infections. Rapid laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis of varicella or herpes zoster, which can be accomplished by detecting viral proteins or DNA, is important to determine the need for antiviral therapy. Acyclovir is licensed for treatment of varicella and herpes zoster, and acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir are approved for herpes zoster. Passive antibody prophylaxis with varicella-zoster immune globulin is indicated for susceptible high-risk patients exposed to varicella. A live attenuated varicella vaccine (Oka/Merck strain) is now recommended for routine childhood immunization.

show abstract

“…Also, Levin et al reported that toxic substances in the swab inactivated the virus and were toxic to cell cul- ture. (45) In the present study, 4 out of 48 collected specimens were positively isolated on the Vero cell line. The low percentage of recovered isolates might be attributed to virus loss because of filtration of specimens prior to inoculation onto Vero cells.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Antiviral activity of liquorice powder extract against varicella zoster virus isolated from Egyptian patients

Shebl¹,

Amin²,

Emad-Eldin³

et al. 2012

Biomed J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the etiologic agent of two diseases, varicella (chicken pox) and zoster (shingles). Varicella is a self-limited infection, while zoster is mainly a disease of adults. The present study was conducted to isolate VZV from clinically diagnosed children using cell cultures and compare the activity of liquorice powder extract, an alternative herbal antiviral agent, with acyclovir and interferon alpha 2a (IFN-α2a) against the isolated virus. Methods: Forty-eight VZV specimens, 26 from vesicular aspirates and 22 from vesicular swabs, from children clinically diagnosed with varicella were isolated on the Vero cell line. Isolates were propagated and identified with specific antiserum using indirect immunofluorescence and immunodot blotting assays. The growth kinetics of the viral isolates was studied. The antiviral activity of liquorice powder extract, acyclovir (ACV) and IFN-α2a was evaluated against the isolated virus. Results: VZV was successfully isolated in 4 of the 48 specimens, all from vesicular aspirates. The growth kinetics of the viral isolates was time dependent. The inhibitory activity of liquorice powder extract (containing 125 µg/ml glycyrrhizin) when compared to ACV (250 µg/ml) and IFN-α2a is the lowest. Conclusions: VZV isolates were successfully isolated and propagated using Vero cells. Isolates were identified using indirect immunofluorescent and immunodot blotting techniques. Growth kinetics of the isolates revealed an increase in the viral infectivity titer relative to time. Glycyrrhizin in the crude form has low antiviral activity against VZV compared with acyclovir and interferon.

show abstract

Factors influencing quantitative isolation of varicella-zoster virus

Cited by 32 publications

References 19 publications

Performance evaluation of Puritan® universal transport system (UniTranz-RT™) for preservation and transport of clinical viruses

Performance evaluation of Puritan® universal transport system (UniTranz-RT™) for preservation and transport of clinical viruses

Varicella-zoster virus

Antiviral activity of liquorice powder extract against varicella zoster virus isolated from Egyptian patients

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About