Phylogenetic Analysis of Varicella-Zoster Virus: Evidence of Intercontinental Spread of Genotypes and Recombination

ABSTRACT A heteroduplex mobility assay was used to identify variants of varicella-zoster virus circulating in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Within the United Kingdom, 58 segregating sites were found out of the 23,266 examined (0.25%), and nucleotide diversity was estimated to be 0.00063. These are an order of magnitude smaller than comparable estimates from herpes simplex virus type 1. Sixteen substitutions were nonsynonymous, the majority of which were clustered within surface-expressed proteins. Extensive genetic correlation between widely spaced sites indicated that recombination has been rare. Phylogenetic analysis of varicella-zoster viruses from four continents distinguished at least three major genetic clades. Most geographical regions contained only one of these three strains, apart from the United Kingdom and Brazil, where two or more strains were found. There was minimal genetic differentiation (one or fewer substitutions in 1,895 bases surveyed) between the samples collected from Africa (Guinea Bissau, Zambia) and the Indian subcontinent (Bangladesh, South India), suggesting recent rapid spread and/or low mutation rates. The geographic pattern of strain distribution would favor a major influence of the former. The genetic uniformity of most virus populations makes recombination difficult to detect. However, at least one probable recombinant between two of the major strains was found among the samples originating from Brazil, where mixtures of genotypes co-occur.

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The seroepidemiology of varicella zoster virus among pregnant Bangladeshi and white British women in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, UK

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268807008497 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 135 (8) ◽

pp. 1344-1353 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Y. S. TALUKDER ◽

G. KAFATOS ◽

A. PINOT de MOIRA ◽

J. AQUILINA ◽

S. P. PARKER ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Inner City ◽

Varicella Zoster Virus ◽

Antibody Prevalence ◽

London Borough ◽

Varicella Zoster ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Royal London Hospital ◽

Antenatal Clinics

SUMMARYWe investigated the comparative seroepidemiology of varicella zoster virus (VZV) in pregnant women of two ethnic groups, white British and Bangladeshi, living in an inner city area of London, United Kingdom. Women aged 16–45 years were recruited from antenatal clinics of the Royal London Hospital in the Borough of Tower Hamlets. Complete data were obtained from 275 white British and 765 Bangladeshi women. VZV antibody prevalence was 93·1% (95% CI 89·4–95·8) and 86·0% (95% CI 83·3–88·4) respectively. Women who were born in Bangladesh and lived there at least until the age of 15 years had the lowest odds of being immune (OR 0·37, 95% CI 0·22–0·63). This implies they will have an increased risk of varicella during pregnancy. Women arriving in the United Kingdom in adulthood should be screened routinely during pregnancy and vaccination offered postpartum if they are susceptible.

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Epidemiology of varicella zoster virus infection in Canada and the United Kingdom – CORRIGENDUM

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268814002088 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 143 (6) ◽

pp. 1332-1332 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

M. BRISSON ◽

W. J. EDMUNDS ◽

B. LAW ◽

N. J. GAY ◽

R. WALLD ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Virus Infection ◽

Varicella Zoster Virus ◽

Varicella Zoster Virus Infection ◽

Varicella Zoster ◽

The United Kingdom

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Use of Oral Fluid to Examine the Molecular Epidemiology of Varicella Zoster Virus in the United Kingdom and Continental Europe

The Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/infdis/jis649 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 207 (4) ◽

pp. 588-593 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Mark Quinlivan ◽

Nitu Sengupta ◽

Vassiliki Papaevangelou ◽

Andreas Sauerbrei ◽

Lena Grillner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Molecular Epidemiology ◽

Varicella Zoster Virus ◽

Oral Fluid ◽

Varicella Zoster ◽

The United Kingdom

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Epidemiology of varicella zoster virus infection in Canada and the United Kingdom

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268801005921 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 127 (2) ◽

pp. 305-314 ◽

Cited By ~ 263

Author(s):

M. BRISSON ◽

W. J. EDMUNDS ◽

B. LAW ◽

N. J. GAY ◽

R. WALLD ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Varicella Zoster Virus ◽

Population Based ◽

Varicella Zoster Virus Infection ◽

Varicella Zoster ◽

Force Of Infection ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Contact Patterns ◽

Epidemiological Characteristics ◽

The Impact

Many countries are currently studying the possibility of mass vaccination against varicella. The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive picture of the pre-vaccine epidemiology of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) to aid in the design of immunization programs and to adequately measure the impact of vaccination. Population-based data including physician visit claims, sentinel surveillance and hospitalization data from Canada and the United Kingdom were analysed. The key epidemiological characteristics of varicella and zoster (age specific consultation rates, seasonality, force of infection, hospitalization rates and inpatient days) were compared. Results show that the overall epidemiology of varicella and zoster is remarkably similar between the two countries. The major difference being that, contrary to Canada, the epidemiology of varicella seems to be changing in the United Kingdom with an important decrease in the average age at infection that coincides with a significant increase in children attending preschool. Furthermore, differences exist in the seasonality between the United Kingdom and Canada, which seem to be primarily due to the school calendar. These results illustrate that school and preschool contact patterns play an important role in the dynamics of varicella. Finally, our results provide baseline estimates of varicella and zoster incidence and morbidity for VZV vaccine effectiveness and cost-effectiveness studies.

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