Simian varicella virus infects ganglia before rash in experimentally infected monkeys

Monkeys experimentally infected with simian varicella virus (SW) develop ra sh 10-14 days later. However, the route and the time of ganglionic infectio n are unknown. Using PCR, we analyzed DNA extracted from tissues of 13 monk eys 5 to 60 days after either intratracheal or intravenous inoculation with SW. SW DNA was detected in gsnglia from four of five monkeys sacrificed 6 to 7 days after intratracheal inoculation. Further, analysis of ganglia fro m monkeys sacrificed at 10 days revealed that intravenous inoculation produ ced a higher proportion of SW DNA-positive gang[ia (63%) than that after in tratracheal inoculation (13%), pointing to the role of hematogenous spread in ganglionic infection. Like other organs, monkey ganglia become infected with SW before the appearance of rash. (C) 2001 Academic Press.