Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
Varicella-zoster virus
MICROBIOLOGY
- DNA virus member of Herpesviridae family.
- Humans are only known reservoirs.
- The primary infection is spread by respiratory route with viral latency established in nerves.
- Latent VZV later found in dorsal root ganglia and cranial nerve ganglia.
- By adulthood, 90-95% are infected (pre-vaccine era).
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Last updated: October 9, 2022
Citation
Auwaerter, Paul. "Varicella-zoster Virus." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2022. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540579/all/Varicella_zoster_virus.
Auwaerter P. Varicella-zoster virus. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2022. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540579/all/Varicella_zoster_virus. Accessed October 30, 2025.
Auwaerter, P. (2022). Varicella-zoster virus. In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540579/all/Varicella_zoster_virus
Auwaerter P. Varicella-zoster Virus [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2022. [cited 2025 October 30]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540579/all/Varicella_zoster_virus.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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