Current problems posed by viruses of the herpes group
Bricout, F.
Pathologie-Biologie 25(3): 143-145
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0369-8114 PMID: 193083 Document Number: 122585
Unlike most of the childhood viral diseases which can now be successfully prevented by active immunization, viruses of the herpes group have a little-understood tendency to settle in the body after apparent healing of an infection. They emerge later when bodily defenses are diminished by the use of immunosupressive drugs, injury or surgery. Viruses may lay dormant in some particular organ e.g., herpes simplex in man always seems to affect the same area. In rabbits and rats latent infections were also demonstrated, and the actual presence of the virus in spinal ganglia was shown. In humans, cytomegalovirus is a well-known case of recurrent infection. Herpes virus type 2 may be involved in uterine-cervical carcinoma and EB [Epstein-Barr] virus may play a role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Similar viruses affecting poultry and leopard frogs that cause malignancies are cited. One of these, Marek's virus of chickens, can be controlled by a vaccine. Difficulties in solving the problems of viruses that can survive in man in a latent state are presented.