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Localization of VZV in saliva of zoster patients
Author(s) -
Mehta Satish K.,
NelmanGonzalez Mayra,
Tyring Stephen K.,
Tong Yun,
Beitman Andrew,
Crucian Brian E.,
Renner Ashlie N.,
Pierson Duane L.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.24807
Subject(s) - saliva , varicella zoster virus , chickenpox , shingles , virology , virus , medicine , herpesviridae , immunology , biology , viral disease
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.