The infrequency of transmission of herpesviruses between humans and animals; postulation of an unrecognised protective host mechanism.
The infrequency of natural transmission of herpesviruses between humans and animals is surprising as there is extensive contact between humans and non-human species with unequivocal evidence that host cells from non-susceptible species will support replication of herpesviruses which do not seem to naturally infect that species. This review examines natural cross-infections between human and other species and suggests that, firstly, it is possible that humans and animals do become asymptomatically or symptomatically cross-infected from other species, but the infection is not diagnosed or not diagnosable by conventional methods; secondly, an as yet unidentified novel mechanism(s) may operate to prevent infection using chemical, electrical or as yet unidentified pathways and may even be 'switched on' by exposure to the virus.
Skinner
G R
GR
Vaccine Research Trust, Vaccine Research Institute, Moseley, Birmingham, UK.
Ahmad
A
A
Davies
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006564:Herpesviridae; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D018419:Primate Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D011323:Primates; D013045:Species Specificity; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology