Varicella-Zoster Virus - Virology

VARICELLA–ZOSTER VIRUS

VIROLOGY

Varicella–zoster virus (VZV) has the same general structure as herpes simplex but contains its own envelope glycoproteins and other structures. Cellular features of infected cells such as multinucleated giant cells and intranuclear eosinophilic inclusion bodies are similar to those of HSV. VZV is more difficult to isolate in cell culture than HSV and grows best but slowly in human diploid fibroblast cells. The virus has a marked tendency to remain attached to the membrane of the host cell with less release of virions into fluids.