Herpesviridae: Gotta Love It

Having taken several science classes, I have become intrigued with the etiology of diseases: Bacteria, Protozoa, Virus, Richettsia, and Fungus. The same class of infectious organism can cause a multitude of ailments in various tissues of various hosts. Take Herpesviridae. It can cause respiratory ailments, ulcers, abortion in animals, miscarriages in humans, birth defects, flu-like symptoms and cancer. Its ability to flourish in an array of hosts make it a formidable adversary.

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) is associated with several diseases in cattle: infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IPV), balanoposthitis, conjunctivitis, abortion, encephalomyelitis, and mastitis. Only a single serotype of BHV-1 is recognized; however, three subtypes of BHV-1 have been described on the basis of endonuclease cleavage patterns of viral DNA—BHV-1.1 (respiratory subtype), BHV-1.2 (genital subtype), and BHV-1.3 (encephalitic subtype). BHV-1.3 has been reclassified as a distinct herpesvirus designated BHV-5.
BHV-1 infections are widespread in the cattle population. In feedlot cattle, the respiratory form is most common. The viral infection alone is not life-threatening but predisposes to secondary bacterial pneumonia, which may result in death. In breeding cattle, abortion or genital infections are more common. Genital infections can occur in bulls (infectious pustular balanoposthitis) and cows (IPV) within 1-3 days of mating or close contact with an infected animal. Transmission can occur in the absence of visible lesions and through artificial insemination with semen from subclinically infected bulls. Cattle with latent BHV-1 infections generally show no clinical signs when the virus is reactivated, but they serve as a source of infection for other susceptible animal.


Bovine Ulcerative Mammillitis ( Bovine Herpesvirus II, Bovine Herpes Mammillitis): Bovine herpesvirus II (BHV-II) causes a severe, ulcerative condition of teat and udder skin of dairy cows that is often referred to as bovine ulcerative mammillitis. BHV-II can occur sporadically or in outbreaks and often results in marked loss of milk production as well as high incidence of secondary mastitis.

Early signs may vary, but the lesions often begin as one or more thickened, edematous plaques of varying size on the skin of one or more teats. Vesicles develop and may rapidly rupture, leaving a raw, ulcerated area that becomes covered with a dark-colored scab. The scabs tend to crack and bleed, especially if milking is attempted. The lesions are of variable size and can include much of the teat wall and orifice. Teats are generally painful and affected cows often resist milking, leading to development of mastitis. The highest incidence is often seen in first-lactation cows, but previously unexposed cows of any age are susceptible. Severe lesions may take several weeks to heal.


Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and confirmed by histopathology or by virus isolation from early lesions. Treatment is directed toward supportive care, as there is no effective therapy for this virus. The use of iodophore-containing teat dips with added emollients may help to inactivate the virus. It is important to isolate affected cows and to use separate milking equipment. Furthermore, separate paper towels and clean gloves for milking personnel help to prevent spread of the agent to susceptible animals.


EHV-1 is also often referred to as “Equine Rhinopneumonitis"  EHV-1 is a fairly common disease that causes respiratory symptoms and abortions in horses. EHV-4 is often confined to the respiratory tract, infection may spread beyond the respiratory tract to cause more serious disease, characterized by abortions, newborn foal death, or neurological disease.
 
Caprine herpesvirus-1 (CHV-1), an alphaherpesvirus closely related to bovine herpesvirus, causes enteritis and generalized infections in neonatal kids. In adult goats, CHV-1 can induce vulvovaginitis, balanoposthitis, respiratory disease, or abortion.       
 
Feline Herpes Virus (Cat Flu)-Causes, Symptoms & Treatment of Cat Herpes. Also known as "feline viral rhinotracheitis", feline herpes (FVR) is an acute upper respiratory disease of cats caused by the feline herpesvirus type 1 or FHV-1.Feline herpesvirus is the most common cause of upper respiratory disease in cats, it is more common in kittens, cats in stressed/overcrowded environments such as animal shelters & multi cat households. Kittens & older cats are more at risk than healthy adults, and are also at greater risk of dying. Once your cat becomes infected with the feline herpesvirus it will have it for life.Herpes viruses are a leading cause of human viral disease, second only to influenza and cold viruses. They are capable of causing overt disease or remaining silent for many years only to be reactivated, for example as shingles. The name herpes comes from the Latin herpes which, in turn, comes from the Greek word herpein which means to creep. This reflects the creeping or spreading nature of the skin lesions caused by many herpes virus types.


There are at least 25 viruses in the family Herpesviridae (currently divided into three sub-families). Eight or more herpes virus types are known to infect man frequently


Herpes simplex virus Type 1 (HSV-1) Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are very common worldwide. HSV-1 is the main cause of herpes infections that occur on the mouth and lips, including cold sores and fever blisters. Often symptoms are triggered by exposure to the sun, fever, menstruation, emotional stress, a weakened immune system, or an illness. HSV-1 is extremely common – as many as 90% of American adults have been exposed to the virus – and there is no stigma to having a cold sore.

Herpes simplex virus Type 2 (HSV-2) Herpes 2 is a sexually transmitted viral infection, which often produces painful sores, usually in the genital area. Once infected, an individual may carry the virus and be subject to recurrent bouts of infection. Some estimate that as many as 20 percent of the adult population in the United States has been exposed to the virus.



Genital herpes is a contagious viral infection affecting primarily the genitals of men and women. Genital herpes is characterized by recurrent clusters of vesicles and lesions at the genital areas or below the waist. A person usually gets HSV-2 infection during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection.

Epstein Barr virus (EBV) Epstein-Barr virus, frequently referred to as EBV, is a member of the herpesvirus family and one of the most common human viruses. The virus occurs worldwide, and most people become infected with EBV sometime during their lives. In the United States, as many as 95% of adults between 35 and 40 years of age have been infected. Symptoms of infectious mononucleosis are fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands. Sometimes, a swollen spleen or liver involvement may develop. Heart problems or involvement of the central nervous system occurs only rarely, and infectious mononucleosis is almost never fatal. There are no known associations between active EBV infection and problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages or birth defects. Although the symptoms of infectious mononucleosis usually resolve in 1 or 2 months, EBV remains dormant or latent in a few cells in the throat and blood for the rest of the person's life. Periodically, the virus can reactivate and is commonly found in the saliva of infected persons. This reactivation usually occurs without symptoms of illness.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) CMV is a common infection that is usually harmless. Once CMV is in a person's body, it stays there for life. Among every 100 adults in the United States, 50–80 are infected with CMV by the time they are 40 years old. Most healthy children and adults infected with CMV have no symptoms and may not even know that they have been infected. Others may develop a mild illness when they get infected and have the following symptoms: fever, sore throat, fatigue, and swollen glands. But since these are also symptoms of other illnesses, most people don't realize that they have been infected with CMV.

Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the cause of chickenpox and herpes zoster (also called shingles). Chickenpox follows initial exposure to the virus and is typically a relatively mild, self-limited childhood illness with a characteristic exanthem.
Approximately 1 per 4000 children develops VZV encephalitis, an acute neurologic disorder with potentially severe complications. In addition, immunocompromised children (eg, those receiving chemotherapy for leukemia or those with advanced HIV infection) can develop disseminated VZV infection, a potentially fatal complication.
After primary infection, VZV remains dormant in sensory nerve roots for life. Upon reactivation, the virus migrates down the sensory nerve to the skin, causing the characteristic painful dermatomal rash. After resolution, many individuals continue to experience pain in the distribution of the rash (postherpetic neuralgia). In addition, reactivation of VZV infection can cause a spectrum of atypical presentations, ranging from self-limited radicular pain without rash to spinal cord disease with weakness.

Human herpes virus 6 (exanthum subitum or roseola infantum) HHV-6A is the strain most likely to be found in MS, CFS and AIDS and cancer patients. HHV-6B causes roseola, febrile illnesses and encephalitis in infants and reactivates in transplant patients, causing complications such as encephalitis, pneumonitis and liver failure.

Human herpes virus 8 (Kaposi's sarcoma-associate herpes virus). Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most common cancer in HIV-infected untreated individuals. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV; also known as human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8)) is the infectious cause of this neoplasm.

Herpes Virus Taxonomy: Herpesviridae:

Ictalurivirus Ictalurid herpesvirus 1 Vertebrates
Alphaherpesvirinae Mardivirus Gallid herpesvirus 2 Vertebrates
Simplexvirus Human herpesvirus 1 Vertebrates
Varicellovirus Human herpesvirus 3 Vertebrates
Iltovirus Gallid herpesvirus 1 Vertebrates
Betaherpesvirinae Cytomegalovirus Human herpesvirus 5 Vertebrates
Muromegalovirus Murine herpesvirus 1 Vertebrates
Roseolovirus Human herpesvirus 6 Vertebrates
Gammaherpesvirinae Lymphocryptovirus Human herpesvirus 4 Vertebrates
Rhadinovirus Simian herpesvirus 2 Vertebrates