EQUINE HERPESVIRUS-2 AND HERPESVIRUS-5 - COMPARISONS WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SUBFAMILY GAMMAHERPESVIRINAE

This chapter describes the molecular and biological properties of equine herpesviruses (EHV)2 and EHV5. It highlights advances in the study of EHV2 and EHV5. The reclassification of EHV2 and EHV5 as gammaherpesviruses rather than betaherpesviruses has profound implications for future approaches to the study of the two equine herpesviruses. The chapter places emphasis on a comparison between the properties of EHV2 and EHV5 and those of other gammaherpesviruses, especially Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis/glandular fever in humans. Studies of the molecular biology of EHVB and EHV5 have led to an understanding of the genome and, to a lesser extent, protein compositions of the viruses. Significant differences exist between EHVB and EHV5 at both levels. Determination of DNA sequences within the EHVB and EHV5 genomes has not only confirmed the separate identities of these two equine viruses, but has shown that they are not betaherpesviruses as previously thought. Instead, EHVB and EHV5 are more properly classified as members of the Gammaherpesvirinae. © 1994 Academic Press Inc.