Reservoir & Transmission

• Reservoir:
  
  

  Figure: Harboring herpesvirus.
  CST: Urinary Tract Infections and Sexually Transmitted Infections.

  
  Herpes simplex virus type 2 only naturally occur in human. HSV-2 remains dormant in the sacral ganglia at the base of the spine after it has entered the body. From there, it recurs in the genital area.

• Transmission:
  Herpes simplex virus type 2 can be passed in the urine or genital discharge of an infected person. It may also transmitted through the rubbing of genital skin during sexual activity (shedding virus from the skin).
  
  More oftenly HSV-2 is transmitted during sexual intercouse with an infected person. The virus is more easily transmitted to women than men with the greater risk of skin breakage in vaginal tissues with intercourse, making exposure more efficient. Rates also correlate with number of sexual partners.
  

  

  
  Figure: Infected mother gives birth to congenital infected child.
  Lifespan, 2007: Herpes Simplex.

  
  There are cases of transmission of HSV-2 occur during labor and delivery. For every 10 neonatal herpes infections, 6 to 7 are acquired because the mother acquires an asymptomatic first outbreak. Transmission of the herpes simplex virus to a newborn can have devastating effects. The extent of the herpes simplex infection can range from a rash on the skin, to involvement of the eyes and mouth, to infection of the brain, to infection throughout the body.
  
  The risk of herpes spreading from person to person is high just before, during and for the week following an outbreak of herpes. However, the herpes virus can be passed from person to person without any active ulcer or blister being present. This means that even when a person is free of symptoms, the virus can still spread to another person if the infected person happens to be shedding herpes virus at the time of sexual intercourse or during labor.
  

References:
1. MedHelp: Herpes FAQ. Internet: http://www.medhelp.org/HealthTopics/questions/faq-herpes-q3.htm.
2. Biogetica: Herpes Simplex Virus 2. Internet: http://biogetica.com/herpes-simplex-virus2.html.
3. Queensland Government, 8 February, 2007: Genital Herpes. Internet: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/sexhealth/factsheets.shtml.
4. Lifespan, 2007: Herpes Simplex. Internet: http://www.lifespan.org/adam/graphics/images/en/17145.jpg.
5. CST: Urinary Tract Infections and Sexually Transmitted Infections. Internet: www.cst.cmich.edu/users/Alm1EW/MMUTI&STD.html.
6. EMBL-EBI: Human Herpesvirus. Internet: http://www.ebi.ac.uk/2can/genomes/viruses/Human_herpesvirus.html.

Comments and inquiries are always welcome.

Prepared by Tan Phit Ling 1071114866