Localization of VZV in saliva of zoster patients. Issue 9 (2nd May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mehta, Satish K.; Nelman‐Gonzalez, Mayra; Tyring, Stephen K.; Tong, Yun; Beitman, Andrew; Crucian, Brian E.; Renner, Ashlie N.; Pierson, Duane L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical virology. Volume 89:Issue 9(2017)
• Page Start: 1686
• Page End: 1689
• Publication Date: 2017-05-02
• Subjects: herpesvirus -- infection -- reactivation -- varicella‐zoster virus -- virus classification; Virology -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24807
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-6615

Abstract

Abstract : Varicella zoster virus (VZV) in saliva from six herpes zoster patients and one chickenpox patient was found to be exclusively associated with epithelial cells by confocal microscopy. VZV localization with antibody specific to the VZV glycoprotein E was detected primarily on the membrane but was also inside the cell. Epithelial cells with VZV were still present in saliva in one out of two tested zoster patients after 10 months of recovery. Saliva from healthy controls (non‐shingles patients, n = 5) did not show any sign of VZV by polymerase chain reaction or by confocal microscopy. No VZV was found in the liquid fraction of saliva. Further work is required to understand the movement of VZV in the saliva cells of infected patients.