Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is the common collective name for Human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) and Human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B). These closely related viruses are two of the nine herpesviruses known to have humans as their primary host.
HHV-6A and HHV-6B are double stranded DNA viruses within the betaherpesvirinae subfamily and of the genus Roseolovirus. HHV-6A and HHV-6B infects almost all of the human populations tested.
HHV-6A has been described as more neurovirulent, and as such is more frequently found in patients with neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
HHV-6B primary infection is the cause of the common childhood illness exanthem subitum (also known as roseola infantum or sixth disease). Additionally, HHV-6B reactivation is common in transplant recipients, which can cause several clinical manifestations such as encephalitis, bone marrow suppression and pneumonitis.
A variety of tests have been used to detect HHV-6, some of which do not differentiate the species.
Two types of infections have been described: active and inactive/latent infections.
Read more about Human Herpesvirus 6: History, Taxonomy, Structure, Genome, Symptoms, Clinical Significance, Treatments
Famous quotes containing the word human:
“I have always had something to live besides a personal life. And I suspected very early that to live merely in an experience of, in an expression of, in a positive delight in the human cliches could be no business of mine.”
—Margaret Anderson (1886–1973)