B Virus: How It Works

In their natural host, macaque monkeys, B virus herpesviruses can target the central nervous system and subsequently establish latent infections without severely damaging the host. Generally, there is an initial acute phase when the virus successfully replicates in peripheral tissue of the host. This replication induces a series of specific immune functions that can serve as markers of infection.

Although each herpesvirus coexists peacefully with macaques, the host:parasite relationship may change dramatically if the virus infects organisms other than its natural host. This change of hosts can potentially cause radically more severe pathogenesis of the infection.