Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is the common collective name for Human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) and Human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B). These closely related viruses are two of the nine herpesviruses known to have humans as their primary host.
HHV-6A and HHV-6B are double stranded DNA viruses within the betaherpesvirinae subfamily and of the genus Roseolovirus. HHV-6A and HHV-6B infects almost all of the human populations tested.
HHV-6A has been described as more neurovirulent, and as such is more frequently found in patients with neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
HHV-6B primary infection is the cause of the common childhood illness exanthem subitum (also known as roseola infantum or sixth disease). Additionally, HHV-6B reactivation is common in transplant recipients, which can cause several clinical manifestations such as encephalitis, bone marrow suppression and pneumonitis.
A variety of tests have been used to detect HHV-6, some of which do not differentiate the species.
Two types of infections have been described: active and inactive/latent infections.
Read more about Human Herpesvirus 6: History, Taxonomy, Structure, Genome, Symptoms, Clinical Significance, Treatments
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