Abstract: The researches on animal models infected by varicella-zoster virus （VZV） in the latest twenty years were retrospected. The authors summarized the methods used both in the establishment of the models on non-human primates，guinea pig, rat and mouse and the methods for the detection of the virus，and outlined the applications of the models. To compare, summarize and analyze these documents is very beneficial to studying the mechanism of VZV infection and developing vaccine and anti-virus medicines.