Abstract
The evolution of varicella zoster virus lasts more than 400 million years. While primates were the original reservoirs of the virus, subsequently VZV started to circulate in human population and humans have been the exclusive hosts for VZV for more than 45 000 years.
VZV is a highly contagious and neurotropic herpetic virus a member of the herpesviridae family. Its primary infection results in typical signs of varicella (chickenpox).
After that, the virus establishes lifelong latency in trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia. Endogenous viral reactivation, thought to be associated with waning VZV specific T cell mediated imunity, leads to herpes zoster (shingles), especially in older adults and immunocompromised persons (VZV is the only human herpetic virus exhibiting entirely different clinical picture).