title: Early detection of Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV)-specific T-cells before seroconversion in primary varicella infection: case report.
abstract: Here we report the case of a 54-year old, immunocompetent German patient with primary varicella whose Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV)-specific T-cell responses could be detected early in infection and before the onset of seroconversion. This case demonstrates that the detection of VZV-specific T-cells may under certain circumstances support the diagnosis of a primary varicella infection, as for example in cases of atypical or subclinical varicella or in the absence of detectable VZV DNA in plasma.
authors.affiliation: Max von Pettenkofer-Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. baiker@mvp.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baiker
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haase
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eberle
authors.forename: Maria Guadalupe
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Vizoso Pinto
authors.forename: Klaus-Ingmar
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Pfrepper
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrich
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deml
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Campe
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nitschko
authors.forename: Gundula
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jaeger
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005858:Germany; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral