Varicella Zoster Virus DNA at Inoculation Sites and in Saliva After Zostavax Immunization

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 203; no. 11; pp. 1542 - 1545
• Main Authors: Pierson, Duane L., Mehta, Satish K., Gilden, Don, Cohrs, Randall J., Nagel, Maria A., Schmid, D. Scott, Tyring, Stephen K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.06.2011
• Series: Editor's Choice
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Applied microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; Chickenpox; DNA; DNA, Viral - analysis; DNA, Viral - isolation & purification; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Herpes zoster; Herpes zoster vaccine; Herpes Zoster Vaccine - administration & dosage; Herpesvirus 3, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 3, Human - immunology; Herpesvirus 3, Human - isolation & purification; Humans; Immunization; Infectious diseases; Inoculation; Major and Brief Reports; Male; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Saliva; Saliva - virology; Skin - virology; Vaccination; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies (general aspects); Varicella zoster encephalitis; Varicella-zoster virus; Virology; Viruses; Virus; Infection; Varicella zoster virus; Immunization; Herpesviridae; Alphaherpesvirinae; Vaccine; Saliva
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jir139

Analysis of 36 individuals over age 60 years who were immunized with Zostavax revealed varicella zoster virus (VZV) DNA in swabs of skin inoculation sites obtained immediately after immunization in 18 (50%) of 36 subjects (copy number per nanogram of total DNA, 28 to 2.1 × 10 6⁶) and in saliva collected over 28 days in 21 (58%) of 36 subjects (copy number, 20 to 248). Genotypic analysis of DNA extracted from 9 random saliva samples identified vaccine virus in all instances. In some immunized individuals over age 60, vaccine virus DNA is shed in saliva up to 4 weeks.