Behavioural changes in the rat following infection with varicella-zoster virus

Department of Veterinary Pathology 1 and Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences 2 , Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1QH, UK Author for correspondence: Robert Dalziel.Fax +44 131 650 6511. e-mail R.G.Dalziel{at}ed.ac.uk Following the establishment of a chronic varicella-zoster virus infection in the rat, behavioural allodynia and hyperalgesia were observed in the injected, but not the contralateral hind limb up to 33 days post-infection. This model may prove useful in investigating mechanisms involved in the establishment of post-herpetic neuralgia.