title: [Detection of varicella zoster virus infections using polymerase chain reaction].
abstract: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect varicella zoster virus (VZV) DNA in vesicle samples from patients with varicella and zoster. Primers and the oligonucleotide probe were chosen from the region of the immediate early gene 63. Procedures for preparing the DNA from the specimens were omitted, and the amplified DNA was directly detected in ethidium bromide-stained polyacrylamide or agarose gels, thus providing a rapid and less laborious assay. A total of 66 vesicle specimens including 3 crusts (collected on days 1-14 after the onset of exanthem) were tested by the simplified VZV-PCR, and 64 (97%) were positive. When the direct visualization of the amplified DNA was confirmed by DNA hybridization, a non-radioactive hybridization assay involving a digoxigenin-labelled oligonucleotide probe and detection by chemiluminescence proved as adequate as a radioactive hybridization assay. Thus, the VZV PCR described appears to be a useful diagnostic test for detecting and identifying varicella zoster virus.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Eis-Hübinger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kleim
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dlugosch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Estor
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kleemann
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Schneweis
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes
vernacular_title: Nachweis von Varizella-Zoster-Virus-Infektionen mittels Polymerasekettenreaktion.