Detection of varicella-zoster virus DNA in human geniculate ganglia by polymerase chain reaction. J. Infect. Dis. 166: 1157–1159. FIG. 2. Copies of VZV, HSV-1, and HSV-2 genes in human trigeminal ganglia. The mean 6 SEM number of copies per 105 cells for

Latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) has been demonstrated in the human trigeminal and tho-racic ganglia by means of nucleic acid hybridization. However, the human geniculate ganglia in VZV latency have not been examined. Tissue DNA extracted from the trigeminal and geniculate ganglia of a newborn and 7 adults was examined by polymerase chain reaction with a pair of VZV-specific primers. None had symptoms of recent infection with VZV (chickenpox or shin