Herpes simplex 2 virus (HSV-2) is a DNA virus that stems from the Herpesviridae family and belongs to Simplexvirus genus (Talaro, & Chess, 2015, p. 169). Herpesviridae consists of more than 100 herpesviruses that occur in animals; eight human heran pesviruses are known, with three subfamilies: Alphaherpesvirinae, Betaherpesvirinae, and Gammaherpesvirinae. Herpes simplex virus-2 is part of the Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily (Norberg, Bergström, Rekabdar, Lindh, & Liljeqvist, 2004).
One of the characteristics which makes Herpes Simplex Virus-2 unique is neurovirulence, which is the ability of the virus to attack the nervous system and copy itself. Another distinctive feature of this virus is that it can remain as a latent infection in the sacral …show more content…
This virus has ability to cause latent infection in particular target cells. Regardless of the host immune response, infection is present and often causes recurrent illness. Seldom reinfection can occur in spite of immunity. HSV-2 invades predisposed mucosal membranes or abraded skin. Next, the virus is transported along peripheral nerve axons to the nerve cell bodies’ sacral ganglia. The virus then remains latent in the paraspinous ganglia. Factors such as fever, stress, or pain will result in reactivation which persuades viral replication. The reactivated virus travels to mucosal surfaces via peripheral sensory nerves. In these nerves, the virus leads to a cutaneous outbreak of herpetic lesions or in viral shedding. Changes in tissues include focal necrosis, ballooning degeneration of cells, production of mononucleated giant epithelial cells, and eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions called Cowdry type A bodies. A majority of people who test positive for the HSV-2 antibody have not been diagnosed with genital herpes. Most of the individuals who are shedding the virus from the genital area can pass the virus to others even if they have limited or no symptoms (CDC, …show more content…
HSV-2 infection can lead to neonatal herpes simplex virus infection, opportunistic infection in immunocompromised individuals, persistent genital ulceration, and psychosocial indisposition. Association between the HSV-2 infection and transmission or acquisition of HIV was reported as well (Jungmann,
One of the characteristics which makes Herpes Simplex Virus-2 unique is neurovirulence, which is the ability of the virus to attack the nervous system and copy itself. Another distinctive feature of this virus is that it can remain as a latent infection in the sacral …show more content…
This virus has ability to cause latent infection in particular target cells. Regardless of the host immune response, infection is present and often causes recurrent illness. Seldom reinfection can occur in spite of immunity. HSV-2 invades predisposed mucosal membranes or abraded skin. Next, the virus is transported along peripheral nerve axons to the nerve cell bodies’ sacral ganglia. The virus then remains latent in the paraspinous ganglia. Factors such as fever, stress, or pain will result in reactivation which persuades viral replication. The reactivated virus travels to mucosal surfaces via peripheral sensory nerves. In these nerves, the virus leads to a cutaneous outbreak of herpetic lesions or in viral shedding. Changes in tissues include focal necrosis, ballooning degeneration of cells, production of mononucleated giant epithelial cells, and eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions called Cowdry type A bodies. A majority of people who test positive for the HSV-2 antibody have not been diagnosed with genital herpes. Most of the individuals who are shedding the virus from the genital area can pass the virus to others even if they have limited or no symptoms (CDC, …show more content…
HSV-2 infection can lead to neonatal herpes simplex virus infection, opportunistic infection in immunocompromised individuals, persistent genital ulceration, and psychosocial indisposition. Association between the HSV-2 infection and transmission or acquisition of HIV was reported as well (Jungmann,