Ji. Cohen et al., CHRONIC UVEITIS IN GUINEA-PIGS INFECTED WITH VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS EXPRESSING ESCHERICHIA-COLI BETA-GALACTOSIDASE, The Journal of infectious diseases, 177(2), 1998, pp. 293-300
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.