B virus

File:2014_Suchum,_Małpiarnia,_Makak_rezus_(12).jpg are a natural host of B virus and have on occasion caused fatal infections in researchers]]

B virus was first identified in 1932 following the death of William Brebner, a young physician who was bitten by a rhesus monkey while doing research on polio.{{Cite journal|last=Pimentel|first=Jason D.|date=2008-03-11|title=Herpes B virus — "B" is for Brebner: Dr. William Bartlet Brebner (1903–1932)|pmc=2263097 |journal=CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal|volume=178|issue=6|pages=734|doi=10.1503/cmaj.071098}} He had healed from the bite but later developed a febrile illness,{{cite book |last=Hilliard|first=Julia|chapter=57. Monkey B virus|date=2007 |id=NBK47426 |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK47426/|title=Human Herpesviruses: Biology, Therapy, and Immunoprophylaxis|editor-last=Arvin|editor-first=Ann |publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-82714-0|pmid=21348110|access-date=2021-02-05|editor2-last=Campadelli-Fiume|editor2-first=Gabriella|editor3-last=Mocarski|editor3-first=Edward|editor4-last=Moore|editor4-first=Patrick S.}} resulting in localized erythema, lymphangitis, lymphadenitis and, ultimately, transverse myelitis. Neurologic tissues obtained during autopsy revealed the presence of an ultrafilterable agent that appeared similar to HSV-1.{{cite journal|vauthors=Gay PP, Holden M|year=1933|title=Isolation of herpesvirus from several cases of epidemic encephalitis|journal=Proc Soc Exp Biol Med|volume=30|issue=8|pages=1051–3|doi=10.3181/00379727-30-6788|s2cid=88005854}} This isolate was originally termed "W virus."

Within a year of Brebner's death, Albert Sabin identified a novel virus from the same samples,{{cite journal |vauthors=Sabin AB, Wright WM |title=Acute ascending myelitis following a monkey bite, with the isolation of a virus capable of reproducing the disease |journal=J Exp Med |issue=2 |pages=115–36 |year=1934 |pmid=19870235 |volume=59 |pmc=2132353| doi=10.1084/jem.59.2.115 }} which he later named B virus.{{Cite web|last=Norris|first=Melissa Cox|date=2012-09-07|title=The Albert B. Sabin Digitization Project: The Case of William Brebner {{!}} LiBlog|url=https://libapps.libraries.uc.edu/liblog/2012/09/the-albert-b-sabin-digitization-project-the-case-of-william-brebner/|access-date=2021-08-01|language=en-US}} Sabin further described the lethality of B virus by showing that infectivity was independent of the route of inoculation. Additionally, it was observed that B virus induced immunologic responses similar to HSV-1{{cite journal |author=Sabin AB |title=Studies on the B virus I: The immunological identity of a virus isolated from a human case of ascending myelitis associated with visceral necrosis |journal=Br J Exp Pathol |issue=15 |pages=248–68 |year=1934 |volume=15 |pmc=2065030}} and shared similarities to HVP-2 and Langur herpesvirus, two other nonhuman primate alphaherpesviruses.{{cite journal |vauthors=Eberle R, Hilliard J |title=The simian herpesviruses |journal=Infectious Agents and Disease |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=55–70 |year=1995 |pmid=7613729}}{{cite journal |author=Sabin AB |title=Studies on the B virus II: Properties of the virus and pathogenesis of the experimental disease in rabbits |journal=Br J Exp Pathol |issue=15 |pages=269–79 |year=1934 |volume=15 |pmc=2065027}}{{cite journal |author=Sabin AB |title=Studies on the B virus III: The experimental disease in macacus rhesus monkeys |journal=Br J Exp Pathol |issue=15 |pages=321–34 |year=1934 |volume=15 |pmc=2065017}}{{cite journal |vauthors=Burnet FM, Lush D, Jackson AV |title=The properties of herps B and pseudorabies viruses on the choriollantois |journal=Aust J Exp Biol Med Sci |volume=17 |issue=17 |pages=35–52 |year=1939|doi=10.1038/icb.1939.4 }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Burnet FM, Lush D, Jackson AV |title=The relationship of herpse and B viruses: immunological and epidemiological considerations |journal=Aust J Exp Biol Med Sci |volume=17 |issue=17 |pages=41–51 |year=1939|doi=10.1038/icb.1939.5 }}

By 1959, B virus was identified as the causative agent in 17 human cases, 12 of which resulted in death.{{cite journal |vauthors=Breen GE, Lamb SG, Otaki AT |title=Monkey bite encephalomyelitis: report of a case with recovery |journal=Br Med J |issue=5087 |pages=22–3 |year=1958 |pmid=13546633 |volume=2 |pmc=2025841 |doi=10.1136/bmj.2.5087.22}}{{cite journal |vauthors=Hummeler K, Davidson WL, Henle W, etal |title=Encephalomyelitis due to infection with herpesvirus simiae (herpes B virus): a report of two fatal, laboratory acquired cases |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |issue=2 |pages=64–8 |year=1959 |doi=10.1056/NEJM195907092610203 |volume=261 |pmid=13666979}}{{cite journal |vauthors=Pierce EC, Pierce JD, Hull RN |title=B virus: its current significance, description and diagnosis of a fatal human infection |journal=Am J Hyg |issue=68 |pages=242–50 |year=1958 |volume=68 |pmid=13594926}} Approximately 50 cases had been identified by 2002, although only 26 were well documented. Improvements in handling human cases have been made in the past several decades. Between 1987 and 2004, the mortality rate decreased, largely due to the addition of new forms of treatment and improved diagnosis. There have been a total of five fatalities related to B virus in this period.{{Cite web | url=http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/yellowbook-2012-home.htm | title=2018 Yellow Book Home | Travelers' Health | CDC}}

In 1997 researcher Elizabeth Griffin was splashed in the eye by an infected rhesus monkey while working at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center and she subsequently died.{{cite web|title=Welcome ergriffinresearch.org - BlueHost.com|url=http://www.ergriffinresearch.org/about-elizabeth/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101233505/http://www.ergriffinresearch.org/about-elizabeth/|archive-date=1 November 2012|access-date=13 March 2019|website=www.ergriffinresearch.org}}

In 2019, a researcher working with monkeys at a Japanese pharmaceutical company became infected and critically ill. In 2021, a veterinarian in China became infected while performing two dissections on rhesus monkeys and subsequently died.

B virus is approximately 200 nm in diameter and has a structure almost identical to that of HSV1 and HSV2. It has an icosahedral capsid (T=16) consisting of 150 hexons and 12 pentons formed from 6 proteins. The envelope is loose around the viral capsid and contains at least 10 glycoproteins critical for adsorption and penetration into host cells. The tegument, containing at least 14 proteins, lies between the capsid and the envelope. The tegument proteins are involved in nucleic acid metabolism, DNA synthesis, and protein processing. The proteins in the tegument are thymidine kinase, thymidylate synthetase, dUTPase, ribonucleotide reductase, DNA polymerase, DNA helicase, DNA primase, and protein kinases.{{cite book |last1=Knipe |first1=D.M. |author-link=David M. Knipe |last2=Howley |first2=P.M. |author2-link=Peter Howley |title=Fields virology |publisher=Wolters Kluwer Health |edition=6th |date=2013 |isbn=9781469830667 }}{{cite book |first=N.H. |last=Acheson |title=Fundamentals of molecular virology |publisher=Wiley |edition=2nd |date=2011 |isbn=9780470900598 }}

The B virus genome was fully sequenced in 2003 from an isolate found in a rhesus macaque.{{cite journal |vauthors=Perelygina L, Zhu L, Zurkuhlen H, etal |title=Complete sequence and comparative analysis of the genome of herpes b virus (Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1) from a rhesus monkey |journal=Journal of Virology |volume=77 |issue=11 |pages=6167–77 |year=2003 |pmid=12743273 |pmc=155011 |doi=10.1128/JVI.77.11.6167-6177.2003}} Like all herpes viruses, the B virus genome contains double-stranded DNA and is approximately 157 kbp in length. Two unique regions (UL and US) are flanked by a pair of inverted repeats, two of which are found at the termini, with the other two internally located. This arrangement, which is identical in nature to HSV, results in four sequence-oriented isomers. Cytosine and guanine nucleotides represent 75% of the sequence.

Sequence analyses suggest that B virus and HSV types 1 and 2 most likely diverged from a common ancestor during the evolution of these pathogens. Each gene-encoded glycoprotein, including gB, gC, gD, gE and gG, has approximately 50% homology with HSV, with a slightly higher predilection towards HSV-2 over HSV-1. Additionally, glycoprotein sequences have demonstrated that all cysteine residues are conserved, as are most glycosylation sites. One key difference between the B virus and the HSVs is that B virus does not have a homolog of the HSV γ₁34.5 gene, which codes for a neurovirulence factor. This indicates that B virus has different mechanisms from HSV for replicating inside nerve cells, which could explain the drastically different effects of these viruses on humans.

In the natural host, the virus exhibits pathogenesis similar to that of cold sores in humans.{{cite book |first=D. |last=Liu |chapter=4. Cercopithecine herpesvirus1 (B Virus) |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=liUyAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA36 |title=Manual of Security Sensitive Microbes and Toxins |publisher=Taylor & Francis |date=2014 |isbn=9781466553965 |pages=31–36 |url=}}

B virus infection of humans is extremely rare. People typically get infected with B virus if they are bitten or scratched by an infected macaque monkey, or have contact with the monkey's eyes, nose, or mouth. Only one case has been documented of an infected person spreading B virus to another person.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-18|title=Herpes B Virus|url=https://www.cdc.gov/herpesbvirus/index.html|access-date=2021-07-19|website=www.cdc.gov|language=en-us}}

Traveling to an area where macaques are known carriers of the virus and interacting in close contact in areas such as temples poses a risk of exposure. However, even in endemic areas, human cases are rare. There have been no known cases of B virus in travelers.

When humans are zoonotically infected with B virus, they can develop encephalitis, resulting in permanent neurological dysfunction or death. The severity of the disease increases for untreated patients. As of 2014, there was a case fatality rate of approximately 80%.

As of 2020, there have been 50 documented cases of human B virus infection since the identification of the virus in 1932, 21 of which led to death.{{Cite web|url = https://www.cdc.gov/herpesbvirus/cause-incidence.html|title = B Virus | Cause and Incidence|date = January 28, 2019|access-date = April 6, 2020|publisher = CDC}} At least 20 of the patients developed some degree of encephalitis.{{Cite web|url=https://research.wustl.edu/offices/dcm/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106224228/http://dcminfo.wustl.edu/occhealth/factsheet_herpesb.html |url-status=dead|title=Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM) | Research | Washington University in St. Louis|archivedate=January 6, 2008|website=Research}}{{cite journal

|title=Biology of B virus in macaque and human hosts: a review

|journal=Clinical Infectious Diseases

|year=1992

|author=Weigler BJ

|volume=14

|issue=2

|pages=555–67

|pmid=1313312

|doi=10.1093/clinids/14.2.555}}

B virus is the only identified old-world-monkey herpesvirus that displays severe pathogenicity in humans.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

Personal protective equipment is necessary when working with macaques, especially with animals that have tested positive for the virus. Bites, scratches, and exposures to mucous membranes, including the eye, have led to infection when not cleaned immediately.{{Cite journal|last1=Cohen|first1=Jeffrey I.|last2=Davenport|first2=David S.|last3=Stewart|first3=John A.|last4=Deitchman|first4=Scott|last5=Hilliard|first5=Julia K.|last6=Chapman|first6=Louisa E.|date=2002-11-15|title=Recommendations for Prevention of and Therapy for Exposure to B Virus (Cercopithecine Herpesvirus1)|journal=Clinical Infectious Diseases|volume=35|issue=10|pages=1191–1203|doi=10.1086/344754|pmid=12410479|issn=1058-4838|doi-access=free}}{{Cite web|date=2021-07-18|title=China reports first human death from Monkey B Virus. All you need to know|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/china-reports-first-human-death-from-monkey-b-virus-all-you-need-to-know-101626613612420.html|access-date=2021-07-20|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Japan's first human infection with B virus {{!}} NHK WORLD-JAPAN News|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191128_40/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129123549/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191128_40/|archive-date=2019-11-29|access-date=2019-11-30|website=NHK WORLD|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Bragg|first=Rick|date=December 14, 1997|title=A Drop of Virus From a Monkey Kills a Researcher in 6 Weeks|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/14/us/a-drop-of-virus-from-a-monkey-kills-a-researcher-in-6-weeks.html}}

Early diagnosis and subsequent treatment are crucial to human survival of the infection. Upon potential infection, samples from both the human and, when possible, the macaque should be sent for B virus diagnostic testing.{{Cite web|url = https://www.cdc.gov/herpesbvirus/specimen-collect.html|title = B Virus | Specimen Collection and B virus Detection|date = July 18, 2014|access-date = October 6, 2014|publisher = CDC}}

Acyclovir has prevented progression of the disease in some patients and may be lifesaving, though it is thought to be only one-tenth as effective against B virus as against HSV1.{{cite journal |vauthors=Elmore D, Eberle R |title=Monkey B virus (Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1) |journal=Comp Med |volume=58 |issue=1 |pages=11–21 |date=2008 |pmid=19793452 |pmc=2703160}}

Prompt treatment is essential to prevent permanent neurological impairment.{{cite journal

|title=B-virus from Pet Macaque Monkeys: An Emerging Threat in the United States?

|journal=Emerging Infectious Diseases

|date=January–March 1998

|vauthors=Ostrowski Stephanie R, etal |volume=4

|issue=1

|pages=117–121

|doi=10.3201/eid0401.980117

|pmid=9452406

|pmc=2627675}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Wikispecies}}

• [https://www.cdc.gov/herpesbvirus/index.html CDC/NCID B Virus Page]
• [http://www.gsu.edu/bvirus B Virus Resource Laboratory]
• {{cite journal |vauthors=Pimentel JD |doi=10.1503/cmaj.071098 |journal=CMAJ |date=2008 |volume=178 |issue=6 |page=734 |title=Herpes B virus — "B" is for Brebner: Dr. William Bartlet Brebner (1903–1932)|pmc=2263097 }}

{{Herpesvirales}}

{{Viral cutaneous conditions}}

{{Zoonotic viral diseases}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q24808672|from2=Q1330599|from3=Q30009625}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Herpes B Virus}}

Category:Simplexviruses

Category:Viral encephalitis