Pathologic Features of HHV-6A, HHV-6B, and HHV-7 Infection (Light and Electron Microscopy)

Krueger, G. R. F.; Lautenschlager, Irmeli

doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-62703-2.00003-3

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…However, to date, none of these animal models has given a conveniently workable picture of the course of human infection. This course can only be hypothesized from clinical and biological findings observed during the natural process (92). Clinical symptoms as well as virological data reported for primary infection cases suggest that following its entry into the body by the oral route, the virus replicates in the salivary glands and satellite lymphoid tissues of the oropharynx, probably the tonsils and cervical lymph nodes.…”

Section: Physiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Laboratory and Clinical Aspects of Human Herpesvirus 6 Infections

2015

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SUMMARY Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a widespread betaherpesvirus which is genetically related to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and now encompasses two different species: HHV-6A and HHV-6B. HHV-6 exhibits a wide cell tropism in vivo and, like other herpesviruses, induces a lifelong latent infection in humans. As a noticeable difference with respect to other human herpesviruses, genomic HHV-6 DNA is covalently integrated into the subtelomeric region of cell chromosomes (ciHHV-6) in about 1% of the general population. Although it is infrequent, this may be a confounding factor for the diagnosis of active viral infection. The diagnosis of HHV-6 infection is performed by both serologic and direct methods. The most prominent technique is the quantification of viral DNA in blood, other body fluids, and organs by means of real-time PCR. Many active HHV-6 infections, corresponding to primary infections, reactivations, or exogenous reinfections, are asymptomatic. However, the virus may be the cause of serious diseases, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. As emblematic examples of HHV-6 pathogenicity, exanthema subitum, a benign disease of infancy, is associated with primary infection, whereas further virus reactivations can induce severe encephalitis cases, particularly in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Generally speaking, the formal demonstration of the causative role of HHV-6 in many acute and chronic human diseases is difficult due to the ubiquitous nature of the virus, chronicity of infection, existence of two distinct species, and limitations of current investigational tools. The antiviral compounds ganciclovir, foscarnet, and cidofovir are effective against active HHV-6 infections, but the indications for treatment, as well as the conditions of drug administration, are not formally approved to date. There are still numerous pending questions about HHV-6 which should stimulate future research works on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapy of this remarkable human virus.

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Section: Physiologymentioning

confidence: 99%