It causes mild subclinical infections in older animals and may result in abortions or stillbirths in breeding bitches. The virus is endemic in the dog population of North America. There is no transmission of the virus from canids to other species, including humans. Lifelong latent infections are typical after primary infection. Canine Herpes Virus belongs to the Herpesvirnae family of viruses.
Herpes viruses are large, enveloped double stranded DNA viruses that are extensively host adapted.
The clinical signs presented by animals infected with Canine Herpes Virus depend on the age of the animal when it becomes infected. Animals infected when they are greater than 3 weeks of age generally show mild or no clinical signs. The disease usually manifests as mild or inapparent respiratory disease, which presents mostly as mild nasal discharge. Adult animals may also show genital lesions. These lesions usually consist of painless lymphoid or vesicular lesions over the base of the penis or vagina.