B virus
B-virus (Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1; McHV-1; formerly Macacine herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1, CHV-1), Herpesvirus simiae, or Herpes virus B is the Simplexvirus infecting macaque monkeys. B virus is very similar to HSV-1, and as such, this neurotropic virus is not found in the blood.
| Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1 | |
|---|---|
| B virus spread in murine cells with time at 24 and 48-hours post infection (PI) | |
| Virus classification | |
| (unranked): | Virus |
| Realm: | Duplodnaviria |
| Kingdom: | Heunggongvirae |
| Phylum: | Peploviricota |
| Class: | Herviviricetes |
| Order: | Herpesvirales |
| Family: | Orthoherpesviridae |
| Genus: | Simplexvirus |
| Species: | Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1 |
| Synonyms | |
| |
In the natural host, the virus exhibits pathogenesis similar to that of cold sores in humans. There have been a number of accidental infections and fatalities of researchers working with rhesus monkeys (Rhesus macaque). When humans are zoonotically infected with B virus, they can present with a severe encephalitis, resulting in permanent neurological dysfunction or death. Severity of the disease increases for untreated patients, with a case fatality rate of approximately 80%. Early diagnosis and subsequent treatment are crucial to human survival of the infection.
Personal protective equipment is necessary when working with macaques, especially with animals that have tested positive for the virus. Bites, scratches, and exposures to mucous membranes, including the eye, have led to infection when not cleaned immediately.