herpesvirus

herpesvirus /her·pes·vi·rus/ (-vi″rus) any of a group of DNA viruses which includes the etiologic agents of herpes simplex, herpes zoster, chickenpox, infectious mononucleosis, and cytomegalic inclusion disease in humans, and of pseudorabies and other animal diseases.

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Herpesvirus

n.

A genus of viruses of the family Herpetoviridae including the causative agents of genital herpes and shingles.

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her·pes·vi·rus (hûrpz-vrs)

n.

Either of two types of DNA-containing animal viruses of the genus Herpesvirus, herpesvirus type one or herpesvirus type two, which form inclusion bodies within the nuclei of host cells. Also called herpes simplex virus.

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herpesvirus

[hur′pēzvī′rəs]

Etymology: Gk, herpein + L, virus, poison

viruses from the family Herperviridae. At least seven species of herpesvirus are known to be infectious to man: herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6, and human herpesvirus 7.

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herpesvirus

a member of the family Herpesviridae.

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herpesvirus hominus

infects nonhuman primates.

herpesvirus-1 infection

see Table 8.2.

herpesvirus paralysis

disease of horses, commonly those reinfected with EHV1. Signs vary from slight ataxia to incoordination, recumbency and death.

herpesvirus saimiri

has produced malignant lymphomas in some monkeys.

herpesvirus tamarinus

a cause of inclusion body hepatitis in marmosets and owl monkeys.

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herpesvirus

Any virus belonging to a group of DNA-containing viruses, which have similar structures but few other properties in common. They are: herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) (human herpesvirus 1); herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) (human herpesvirus 2); varicella-zoster virus (VZV) (human herpesvirus 3); Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (human herpesvirus 4); cytomegalovirus (CMV) (human herpesvirus 5); human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6); human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7); and human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8). Herpesviruses may cause infections including blepharoconjunctivitis, herpes zoster ophthalmicus, iridocyclitis, keratitis, uveitis, retinal necrosis, retinitis and cytomegalovirus retinitis. See antiviral agents; virus.

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Patient discussion about herpesvirus.

Q. Are cold sores contagious? My boyfriend has cold sores on his mouth. Can I catch it from him? If so, how can I prevent catching it?

A. The virus that causes cold sores is known as the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV, type I and type II. Cold sores are usually caused by type I. Herpes simplex infections are contagious. You can catch the virus by kissing your boyfriend or having other close contact with his sores or even from having contact with other parts of his skin that appear normal but are in fact shedding the virus. People are most contagious when they have active blister-like sores. Once the blisters have dried and crusted over (within a few days), the risk of contagion is significantly lessened. Therefore, it is best that you don't come in physical contact while he has the cold sores, since he is contagious. However, a person infected with HSV can pass it on to another person even when a cold sore is not present. This is because the virus is sometimes shed in saliva even when sores are not present.