Infect Chemother.  2010 Jun;42(3):162-170. 10.3947/ic.2010.42.3.162.

Genotype of Varicella Zoster Virus Isolated from Korean Elderly Patients with Herpes Zoster

• Choi YJ
• Kim KH
• Oh MD

• KMID: 2170304
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2010.42.3.162

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Herpes zoster develops via reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus (VZV) in neuronal ganglia as host immunity declines. In Korea, seroprevalence of VZV is very high and population at risk for herpes zoster is increasing. The goal of this study is to evaluate the infection rate of the VZV and the lifetime prevalence of herpes zoster, and to determine the genotype of VZV.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Serum IgG antibody titer was measured in 399 patients. Lifetime prevalence of herpes zoster was evaluated through a survey of 2,054 participants. VZV was isolated by cell culture technique using MRC-5 cells. To determine the genotype of VZV, ORF 22, 38, 54, 62 were amplified by PCR, and after digestion of the PCR products with enzymes pstI, bglI, and smaI, restriction-fragment-length-polymorphism (RFLP) was analysed. The amplified ORF 22 PCR product was sequenced and checked for single nucleotide polymorphisms.
RESULTS
The overall seroprevalence of VZV IgG in adults was 93.9% (375/399). The overall lifetime prevalence of herpes zoster was 13.7% (282/2,054). Of the patients with herpes zoster, 17.7% (50/282) of patients experienced postherpetic neuralgia for more than one month. All 22 VZV isolates were of J genotype; 21 (95.4%) isolates were all pstI+ bglI+ smaI-, and 1 (4.5%) isolate was pstI- bglI+ smaI- (pOka) genotype.
CONCLUSIONS
The seroprevalece of VZV IgG antibody was 93.9% in adults. The lifetime prevalence of herpes zoster was 13.7%. The genotype of VZV isolated from adults over 60 years old were all of J genotype.

Keyword

Herpes zoster; Varicella zoster virus; Seroprevalence; Genotype

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Animals
Cell Culture Techniques
Chickenpox
Digestion
Ecthyma, Contagious
Ganglia
Genotype
Herpes Zoster
Herpesvirus 3, Human
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Korea
Neuralgia, Postherpetic
Neurons
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Population Characteristics
Prevalence
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Immunoglobulin G

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 RFLP Pattern of ORF 38, 54, and 62 Product Digested with pstI, bglI, smaI. A) A 350bp ORF 38 product was digested with pstI. The product yielded 2 fragments of 250bp and 100bp in size. B) Digestion of 268bp ORF 62 product with smaI yielded 3 fragments 153bp, 79bp, 36bp in size. C) Digestion of 222bp ORF 54 product with bglI yielded 2 fragments 137bp and 87bp in size.

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