Herpesvirus latency and therapy--from a veterinary perspective.
This short review considers how the human herpesviruses were among the first viruses to be effectively treated by means of antiviral therapy although the ability of alphaherpsviruses to establish neuronal latency with reactivation remains the major obstacle to achieving a cure. Laboratory animals played an essential role in the development of herpes antivirals including our understanding of the complexity of the neurological infection in relation to chemotherapy. The existence of natural herpesvirus infections in domestic species also contributes to our understanding of latency and reactivation relevant to antiviral therapy although the use of antivirals to treat or prevent virus infections in veterinary species has been minimal, to date. The review briefly focuses on herpes infections in the horse and cat where some progress has already been achieved in the veterinary antiviral field.
Field
Hugh J
HJ
Centre for Veterinary Science, Cambridge University Veterinary School, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK. hjf10@cam.ac.uk
Biswas
Subhajit
S
Mohammad
Islam T
IT
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D002415:Cats; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D004861:Herpesvirus 1, Equid / Q000502:physiology*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D018140:Varicellovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D017735:Virus Latency
D000998:Antiviral Agents