C. Mainka et al., CHARACTERIZATION OF VIREMIA AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS-INFECTION, Journal of medical virology, 56(1), 1998, pp. 91-98
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) viremia at different stages of infection
was characterized. Different approaches were used, polymerase chain re
action (PCR), isothermal transcription based nucleic acid amplificatio
n (NASBA), and immunofluorescence to describe and quantitate viral inf
ection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In patients with
acute varicella 200 to 5,000 copies of the viral genome in every 150,0
00 PBMC were found with quantitative competitive PCR (OCPCR). With NAS
BA, viral transcriptional activity was detected in these cells. RNA tr
anscribed from the immediate early gene IE 63 as well as from the late
gene 68 were found, indicating a productive infection. Glycoprotein g
E specific immunofluorescence visualized by confocal laser scanning mi
croscopy revealed that only 1 in 10,000 to 100,000 PBMC was infected.
T and B lymphocytes as well as monocytes expressed viral protein on th
eir surface. Similar results were obtained with PBMC from immunocompet
ent tester patients. In some cases a transient viremia was found short
ly after the onset of rash, although the viral load seemed to be lower
than in patients with varicella. Examination of blood samples from 16
persons with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) signs of viral replication
in PBMC were not detected. In conclusion, the data suggest that VZV vi
remia is a frequent event in patients with varicella and tester, but n
ot in those with postherpetic neuralgia. Moreover, the results indicat
ed that subclinical reactivations occur both in immunocompromised and
immunocompetent individuals. J. Med. Virol. 56:97-98, 1998. (C) 1998 W
iley-Liss, Inc.