HERPESVIRUS INFECTIONS OF THE CNS - MR FINDINGS

Herpesvirus infections of the CNS are prevalent in all segments of the population, and are an important health care issue. The family of her pesviruses consists of a large group of double-stranded DNA viruses th at includes herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, varicella-zoster virus, B virus, herpesvirus 6, and herpesvirus 7. In addition to produ cing infection when the host initially acquires the virus, an importan t property shared by these viruses is the ability to produce latent in fection and to be reactivated.