CHRONIC UVEITIS IN GUINEA-PIGS INFECTED WITH VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS EXPRESSING ESCHERICHIA-COLI BETA-GALACTOSIDASE

There is no small animal model that replicates chickenpox and herpes t ester, which are caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Therefore, to detect VZV in tissues of infected animals, the Escherichia coli beta- galactosidase gene was inserted into the viral genome. Intravitreal in oculation of guinea pigs with virus-infected cells resulted in a chron ic uveitis, with mononuclear cells in the vitreous cavity of the eye o f nearly all animals. Staining with X-gal demonstrated the presence of VZV in the ciliary body or iris of similar to 40% of the animals and in retinal pigmented epithelial cells in 4 animals. X-gal staining sho wed VZV in the eye of 1 animal 140 days after inoculation. These exper iments indicate that VZV expressing beta-galactosidase is useful for d etecting virus in tissues and that VZV can cause a chronic uveitis in which virus can be detected in some animals for up to 4 months.