varicella zoster virus

(noun)

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is one of eight herpes viruses known to infect humans (and other vertebrates). It commonly causes chicken-pox in children and adults and Herpes zoster (shingles) in adults and rarely in children.

Related Terms

  • herpes zoster
  • postherpetic neuralgia

Examples of varicella zoster virus in the following topics:

  • Shingles

    • Shingles, the common name for herpes zoster, is caused by latent varicella zoster virus, the same virus which causes chickenpox in children.
    • Herpes zoster, commonly known as shingles, is a viral disease caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a limited area on one side of the body, often in a stripe.
    • The initial infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes the acute (short-lived) illness chickenpox which generally occurs in children and young people.
    • Varicella zoster virus can become latent in the nerve cell bodies and less frequently in non-neuronal satellite cells of dorsal root, cranial nerve or autonomic ganglion, without causing any symptoms.
    • Once vaccinated, most children will not become infected with the varicella zoster virus if exposed, and subsequently will not develop shingles later in life.
  • Dermatomes

    • Viruses that remain dormant in nerve ganglia, such as the varicella zoster virus that causes both chickenpox and shingles, often cause either pain, rash, or both in a pattern defined by a dermatome.
    • The rash of shingles is almost always restricted to a specific dermatome, such as on the chest, leg, or arm caused by the residual varicella zoster virus infection of the nerve that supplies that area of skin.
  • Animal Viruses

    • Other viruses cause long-term chronic infections, such as the virus causing hepatitis C, whereas others, like herpes simplex virus, cause only intermittent symptoms.
    • As the virus "hides" in the tissue and makes few if any viral proteins, there is nothing for the immune response to act against; immunity to the virus slowly declines.
    • Latent infections are common with other herpes viruses as well, including the varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox.
    • After having a chickenpox infection in childhood, the varicella-zoster virus can remain latent for many years and reactivate in adults to cause the painful condition known as "shingles" .
    • (a) Varicella-zoster, the virus that causes chickenpox, has an enveloped icosahedral capsid visible in this transmission electron micrograph.
  • Double-Stranded DNA Viruses: Herpesviruses

    • Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is one of eight herpes viruses known to infect humans and other vertebrates.
    • It commonly causes chicken-pox in children and adults, and herpes zoster (shingles) in adults.
    • These genes encode a variety of proteins involved in forming the capsid, tegument and envelope of the virus, as well as controlling the replication and infectivity of the virus.
    • In this fashion, the virus can persist in the cell (and thus the host) indefinitely.
    • Various viruses from the Herpesviridae family seen using an electron micrograph Amongst these members is varicella-zoster (Chickenpox), and herpes simplex type 1 and 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2).
  • Viral Pneumonia

    • Typically, a virus will reach the lungs by traveling in droplets through the mouth and nose during inhalation.
    • Once there, the virus will invade the cells that line the airways and the alveoli.
    • Viruses that primarily cause other diseases, but sometimes cause pneumonia, include herpes simplex virus (HSV, mainly in newborns), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), measles virus, rubella virus, and cytomegalovirus (CMV, mainly in people with immune system problems).
    • Because of this, the best prevention against viral pneumonia is vaccination against influenza, adenovirus, chickenpox, herpes zoster, measles, and rubella.
    • Outline the route of infection for a virus that causes pneumonia
  • Replication of Double-Stranded DNA Viruses of Animals

    • From the perspective of the virus, the purpose of viral replication is to allow production and survival of its kind.
    • Most of these viruses, such as BK virus and JC virus, are very common and typically asymptomatic in most human populations studied.
    • At this point viral gene expression can occur and new virus particles can be generated.
    • At least five species of Herpesviridae – HSV-1 and HSV-2 (both of which can cause orolabial herpes and genital herpes), Varicella zoster virus (which causes chicken-pox and shingles), Epstein-Barr virus (which causes mononucleosis), and Cytomegalovirus – are extremely widespread among humans.
    • In total, there are 8 herpesvirus types that infect humans: herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus, EBV (Epstein-Barr virus), human cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6, human herpesvirus 7, and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus.
  • The TORCH Panel of Tests

    • The "other infections" included under the letter O include Coxsackievirus, Syphilis, Varicella-Zoster Virus, HIV, and Parvovirus B19.
    • Hepatitis B is also sometimes included among "other infections," but Hepatitis B is a large virus and does not cross the placenta, hence it cannot infect the fetus unless there have been breaks in the maternal-fetal barrier, such as can occur due to bleeding during childbirth or during amniocentesis.
    • Micrograph of a pap test showing changes (upper-right of image) associated with Herpes Simplex Virus, a TORCH infection.
  • Viral Skin Diseases

    • Infection with the herpes virus is categorized into one of several distinct disorders based on the site of infection.
    • Once infected, the virus remains in the body for life.
    • Herpes zoster (or simply zoster), commonly known as shingles, is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a limited area on one side of the body, often in a stripe.
    • The initial infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes the acute (short-lived) illness chickenpox which generally occurs in children and young people.
    • Exactly how the virus remains latent in the body, and subsequently re-activates is not understood.
  • The Vocabulary Epidemiology

    • Some viruses also exhibit a dormant phase, called viral latency, in which the virus hides in the body in an inactive state.
    • For example, varicella zoster virus causes chickenpox in the acute phase; after recovery from chickenpox, the virus may remain dormant in nerve cells for many years, and later cause herpes zoster (shingles).
  • Genital Herpes

    • Herpes genitalis (or genital herpes) refers to a genital infection by Herpes simplex virus.
    • Herpes genitalis (or genital herpes) refers to a genital infection by Herpes simplex virus .
    • Among these drugs are: acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir.Acyclovir is an antiviral drug used against herpes viruses, varicella-zoster, and Epstein-Barr Viruses.
    • The ointment is used topically and it decreases pain, reduces healing time, and limits the spread of the infection.Valacyclovir is also used to treat herpes virus infections.
    • Recognize the causes and symptoms of herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 and 2
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