Beta herpes viruses may maintain latency in secretory glands, lymphoid tissues and other tissues such as kidneys. Gamma Herpes Viruses Gamma herpes viruses have a narrow host range, are lymphotropic and maintain latency in lymphocytes. Some gamma herpes viruses are linked to oncogenic transformation. Though gamma herpes viruses don't typically cause significant disease in non-human primates or ungulates, they may cause lymphoproliferative diseases in heterologous closely related hosts. Malignant Catarrhal Fever is an example of a disease with these characteristics.
Infection occurs via endophagocytosis or fusion of the envelope with the cell membrane.
Following infection, the genome enters the nucleus and 3 classes of mRNA are expressed. These include alpha immediate early, beta early and gamma late. These immediate early genes are considered regulatory in nature. Beta early mRNA encodes for necessary viral enzymes and suppresses transcription of immediate early genes. The viral DNA is replicated in the nucleus.