The serological relationship of varicella-zoster virus to other primate herpesviruses.

The serological relationship between viruses producing varicella-like exanthems in several subhuman primates, varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and herpes simplex viruses (HSV) types 1 and 2, was investigated. All the primate viruses were related to VZV and some to HSV also. These results show that there is a group of varicella viruses, comprising four distinct entities, some of which may be useful for the establishment of an animal model for varicella.