After primary infection, varicella-zoster virus (VZV) becomes latent in ganglia. VZV reactivation occurs primarily in elderly individuals, organ transplant recipients, and patients with cancer and AIDS, correlating with a specific decline in cell-mediated immunity to VZV. VZV can also reactivate after surgical stress. To determine whether VZV can also reactivate after acute non-surgical stress, we examined total DNA extracted from 312 saliva samples of eight astronauts before, during and after space flight for VZV DNA by PCR: 112 samples were obtained 234 to 265 days before flight, 84 samples on days 2 through 13 of space flight, and 116 samples on days 1 through 15 after flight. Before space flight only one of the 112 saliva samples from a single astronaut was positive for VZV DNA. In contrast, during and after space flight, 61 of 200 (30%) saliva samples were positive in all 8 astronauts. No VZV DNA was detected in any of 88 saliva samples from 10 healthy control subjects. These data indicate that VZV can reactivate subclinically in healthy individuals after acute stress.


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    Title :

    Stress-Induced Subclinical Reactivation of Varicella Zoster Virus in Astronauts


    Contributors:
    S. K. Mehta (author) / D. L. Pierson (author) / B. Forghani (author) / G. Zerbe (author) / R. J. Cohrs (author)

    Publication date :

    2003


    Size :

    12 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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