Human Herpesvirus 6: An Emerging Pathogen

• Main Authors: Gabriella Campadelli-Fiume, Prisco Mirandola, Laura Menotti
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1999-06-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Italy
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/5/3/99-0306_article
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059

Infections with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), a ß-herpesvirus of which two variant groups (A and B) are recognized, is very common, approaching 100% in seroprevalence. Primary infection with HHV-6B causes roseola infantum or exanthem subitum, a common childhood disease that resolves spontaneously. After primary infection, the virus replicates in the salivary glands and is shed in saliva, the recognized route of transmission for variant B strains; it remains latent in lymphocytes and monocytes and persists at low levels in cells and tissues. Not usually associated with disease in the immunocompetent, HHV-6 infection is a major cause of opportunistic viral infections in the immunosuppressed, typically AIDS patients and transplant recipients, in whom HHV-6 infection/reactivation may culminate in rejection of transplanted organs and death. Other opportunistic viruses, human cytomegalovirus and HHV-7, also infect or reactivate in persons at risk. Another disease whose pathogenesis may be correlated with HHV-6 is multiple sclerosis. Data in favor of and against the correlation are discussed.