Herpesviridae

Background

Microbiology

• A family of double-stranded DNA viruses that cause disease in humans
• The human herpesviruses are further subdivided into three subfamilies
  • Also remember Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1

Subfamily	Species	Reservoir	Transmission	Clinical Associations
Alphaherpesvirinae	HSV-1 (HHV-1)	Sensory ganglia	Saliva, skin lesions, vertical transmission
	HSV-2 (HHV-2)		Skin lesions, sexual contact, vertical transmission
	VZV (HHV-3)		Skin lesions, respiratory droplets, vertical transmission
Betaherpesvirinae	CMV (HHV-5)	Myeloid progenitors	Saliva, respiratory droplets, vertical transmission
	Roseolavirus (HHV-6a and -6b)	Myeloid progenitors	Saliva
	Roseolavirus (HHV-7)	CD4 T cells	Saliva
Gammaherpesvirinae	EBV (HHV-4)	B lymphocytes	Saliva	Various hematologic malignancies
	KSHV (HHV-8)		Saliva, sexual contact	HIV, Kaposi sarcoma

Epidemiology

• Transmitted human-to-human through saliva, skin lesions, respiratory droplets, in utero, or intrapartum
• Except HSV-2 and HHV-8, these viruses are incredibly common in modern human populations

Management

• Typically respond to antivirals, including acyclovir, valacyclovir, ganciclovir, valganciclovir, and foscarnet