Alphaherpesvirus in Pets and Livestock

Herpesviruses are a group of DNA viruses capable of infecting multiple mammalian species, including humans. This review primarily summarizes four common alphaherpesviruses found in pets and livestock (feline, swine, canine, and bovine) in aspects such as epidemiology, immune evasion, and latency and reactivation. Despite the fact that they primarily infect specific hosts, these viruses have the potential for cross-species transmission due to genetic mutations and/or recombination events. During infection, herpesviruses not only stimulate innate immune responses in host cells but also interfere with signaling pathways through specific proteins to achieve immune evasion. These viruses can remain latent within the host for extended periods and reactivate under certain conditions to trigger disease recurrence. They not only affect the health of animals and cause economic losses but may also pose a potential threat to humans under certain circumstances. This review deepens our understanding of the biological characteristics of these animal alphaherpesviruses and provides an important scientific basis for the prevention and control of related diseases.