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Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, September 2007, p. 1057-1061, Vol. 14, No. 9
1071-412X/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/CVI.00348-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Genotypic Analysis of Varicella-Zoster Virus and Its Seroprevalence in Finland{triangledown}

Marjaleena Koskiniemi,1* Maija Lappalainen,2 D. Scott Schmid,3 Elena Rubtcova,3 and Vladimir N. Loparev4

Department of Virology, The Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki,1 Department of Virology, Laboratory Division, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland,2 Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Herpesvirus Branch, Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia,3 Biotechnology Core Facility, Biological Products Branch, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia4

Received 21 September 2006/ Returned for modification 6 March 2007/ Accepted 27 June 2007

We evaluated the seroprevalence of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in the Finnish population among various age groups and genetically characterized VZV strains from documented cases of varicella and zoster. VZV-specific immunoglobulin G was measured in 2,842 serum samples that had been submitted for virological studies to the Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, from 1995 to 1996. Specimens for VZV genotyping were obtained from vesicular lesions from two pediatric patients and 26 adult patients. Seroprevalence to VZV varied markedly by age: 45% in children aged ≤2 months, 12.5% in children aged 6 to 8 months, and >90% in children near 10 years of age, plateauing thereafter into advanced age. The seroprevalence rates indicate that in Finland, as in other countries with temperate climates, primary VZV infection usually occurs during the first decade of life. Twenty-eight VZV DNA-positive specimens were analyzed to identify VZV vaccine and wild-type genotypes. All analyzed specimens were wild type and the European (E) genotype.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Haartman Institute, Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 21 (Haartmaninkatu 3), 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. Phone: 358-9-1912 6579. Fax: 358-9-1912 6491. E-mail: Marjaleena.Koskiniemi{at}Helsinki.Fi

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 11 July 2007.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, September 2007, p. 1057-1061, Vol. 14, No. 9
1071-412X/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/CVI.00348-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Liu, J., Wang, M., Gan, L., Yang, S., Chen, J. (2009). Genotyping of Clinical Varicella-Zoster Virus Isolates Collected in China. J. Clin. Microbiol. 47: 1418-1423 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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