Objective: To make serological analysis and identify the etiology of an outbreak of chickenpox in Zhabei District of Shanghai in 2007.
Methods: IgM and IgG of the paired serums were detected by ELISA. The collected herpes were inoculated into MRC-5 cells to get VZV isolations and identify them by VZV standard serums. A 268bp fragment was amplified by specific PCR primers.
Results: Among the five paired serums, two of the acute phase serums were VZV IgM positive, one was VZV IgG positive, and two were equivocal for anti-VZV IgG. All of the convalescent serums were VZV IgG positive, and four of them were 4 times higher in antibody titer than those of acute phase serums. Viruses were isolated from all of the 5 herpes, and then identified by VZV standard serum. The electrophoresis result of PCR products showed the single specific strap.
Conclusions: This outbreak was caused by VZV virus. 47.4% of the patients were inoculated in postnatal or domestic VZV vaccines in China 3 years after delivery. The effectiveness of VZV vaccine has been certified. It is necessary to consider the immunization strategy of VZV vaccine.