Herpes infections can be transmitted to newborn Both types 1 and 2 invade and kill epithelial cells of mucous membranes . Herpes is a DNA virus and therefore a prime candidate for lysogeny. The virus incorporates itself into the genome of human nerve cells in the peripheral ganglia of sensory nerves. It stays there as a provirus until something triggers the virus to resume lytic cycle. The virus most often returns via the peripheral nerves to the site of the first attack but not always.
Infection there causes sight damage and can occasionally lead to blindness.
Varicella Zoster is the herpes virus that causes chicken pox and shingles . Remember Varicella zoster is a DNA virus and therefore there are potential problems with latency. Since the vaccine is made of live attenuated virus some people are reluctant to purposely introduce the weakened virus into their peripheral nerve genes forever. Shingles is a sequella to chicken pox infection that occurs when the latent virus in those sensory ganglia migrate down the nerve endings causing intense pain. Slide The characteristic rash of both shingles and chicken pox is primarily from the inflammatory response to the presense of the virus.