Gershon A A
Rev Infect Dis. 1980 May-Jun;2(3):393-407. doi: 10.1093/clinids/2.3.393.
Varicella-zoster (VZ) virus causes two diseases, varicella and zoster. Because it was recognized that, after varicella, latent VZ virus persisted in the host and because varicella was thought to be a milde disease, there was little impetus in North America to develop a live VZ vaccine. More recently, it has become apparent that currently available methods of prevention and treatment of severe varicella are not always efficacious. With the development of a live attenuated VZ vaccine by Takahashi and the successful use of the vaccine in immunocompromised children in Japan, there has been an increased interest in North America in immunization against varicella. In this article the natural history of VZ infections and the immunologic reactions to VZ virus are described, and the development and use of VZ vaccine in Japan are reviewed. Plans for trials of VZ vaccine in immunocompromised North American children are outlined. The major questions concerning the large-scale use of VZ vaccine are presented.
水痘带状疱疹病毒（VZ）可引发两种疾病，即水痘和带状疱疹。由于人们认识到水痘之后，潜伏的VZ病毒会在宿主体内持续存在，并且由于水痘被认为是一种轻症疾病，在北美几乎没有动力去研发一种活的VZ疫苗。最近，很明显目前可用的预防和治疗重症水痘的方法并不总是有效。随着高桥研发出一种减毒活VZ疫苗，并在日本免疫功能低下的儿童中成功使用该疫苗，北美对水痘免疫接种的兴趣有所增加。本文描述了VZ感染的自然史以及对VZ病毒的免疫反应，并回顾了VZ疫苗在日本的研发和使用情况。概述了在北美免疫功能低下儿童中进行VZ疫苗试验的计划。提出了关于大规模使用VZ疫苗的主要问题。
