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Natural History of VZV infection

With the introduction of an effective vaccine, the risk of developing VZV disease has been greatly reduced for future generations. However, most living adults were exposed to VZV naturally and thus, are at risk for developing recurrence, a condition called shingles. About 10% to 20% of patients harboring latent VZV will develop shingles and this risk increases with age.

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Articles of Interest

Chickenpox and shingles virus lying dormant in your neurons can reactivate and increase your risk of stroke – new research identified a potential culprit

Over 90% of the world population has the virus that causes chickenpox lying dormant in their nervous system. Most people contract the varicella zoster virus, or VZV, when they get chickenpox as children. For around a third of these people, this same virus will reactivate years later and cause shingles, also called herpes zoster. While most people are familiar with the painful rash that VZV causes for shingles, a wide spectrum of other complications can also occur even without visible skin symptoms. Among the most severe is stroke, in particular ischemic stroke, which occurs when the blood supply to the brain is restricted by narrowing arteries or blocked by a clot.

Recent Issues in Varicella-Zoster Virus Latency

After a variable period, which can span several decades, VZV may reactivate from the latent state in human ganglia to cause the well-recognised syndrome of herpes zoster (shingles) which is an extremely painful vesicular rash with an anatomical distribution of a particular sensory dermatome.

The chickenpox virus has a fascinating evolutionary history that continues to affect peoples’ health today

I became painfully aware of the virus that causes chickenpox a few years ago when my husband developed shingles soon after starting a stressful job. Chronic stress is one trigger for reactivation of the dormant virus, as it is for the closely related herpes viruses. The virus that causes both chickenpox and shingles, varicella-zoster, is only known to infect humans. “Varicella” means “little variola,” or little smallpox, because both diseases cause skin blisters.

Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV)

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is known to have two disease outcomes. The first is varicella, a frequent and highly contagious disease of childhood. More commonly known as chickenpox, it is characterized by fever and severe skin rash. The second is zoster, a disease characterized by extremely painful skin rash that occurs much later in life.

Varicella-zoster virus

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a ubiquitous human alphaherpesvirus that causes varicella (chicken pox) and herpes zoster (shingles). Varicella is a common childhood illness, characterized by fever, viremia, and scattered vesicular lesions of the skin. As is characteristic of the alphaherpesviruses, VZV establishes latency in cells of the dorsal root ganglia. Herpes zoster, caused by VZV reactivation, is a localized, painful, vesicular rash involving one or adjacent dermatomes. The incidence of herpes zoster increases with age or immunosuppression.

Varicella-Zoster Virus (Chickenpox and Shingles)

Varicella-zoster is a herpes virus that causes chickenpox, a common childhood illness. It is highly contagious. If an adult develops chickenpox, the illness may be more severe. After a person has had chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus can remain inactive in the body for many years. Herpes zoster (shingles) occurs when the virus becomes active again.

Varicella-Zoster Virus and the Enteric Nervous System

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infects and becomes latent in sensory, enteric, and other autonomic neurons during the viremia of varicella. Reactivation of VZV in neurons that project to the skin causes the rash of zoster; however, reactivation of VZV in enteric neurons can cause a painful gastrointestinal disorder (“enteric zoster”) without cutaneous manifestations.

Varicella-Zoster Virus ​ Background

VZV causes two human diseases, varicella (chickenpox) and herpes zoster (shingles). Chickenpox (varicella), is a disease most commonly affecting children, teens, and young adults, and shingles (herpes zoster) in adults; shingles is rare in children.

Resources

CDC

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a DNA virus that is a member of the herpesvirus group. Primary infection with VZV causes varicella (chickenpox), and reactivation of latent infection causes herpes zoster (shingles). Healthcare-associated transmission of VZV is well recognized, although reports of transmission in healthcare settings have become less common since the introduction of the varicella vaccine.

Infectious Disease Advisor

Human alphaherpesvirus 3 (HHV-3), also known as varicella-zoster virus (VZV), is an enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the family Herpesviridae that causes 2 distinct clinical conditions: varicella (chickenpox) and herpes zoster (shingles). A globally pervasive virus, VZV is 1 of 8 herpesviruses known to infect humans. It is an exclusively human pathogen without any known animal or insect vector or host.

Nature

Infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella (chickenpox), which can be severe in immunocompromised individuals, infants and adults. Primary infection is followed by latency in ganglionic neurons. During this period, no virus particles are produced and no obvious neuronal damage occurs. Reactivation of the virus leads to virus replication, which causes zoster (shingles) in tissues innervated by the involved neurons, inflammation and cell death — a process that can lead to persistent radicular pain (postherpetic neuralgia).