Herpesviruses in Reptiles

Since the 1970s, several species of herpesviruses have been identified and associated with significant diseases in reptiles. Earlier discoveries placed these viruses into different taxonomic groups on basis morphological biological characteristics, while advancements molecular methods led to more recent descriptions novel reptilian herpesviruses, as well providing insight phylogenetic relationship viruses. Herpesvirus infections reptiles are often characterised by non-pathognomonic signs including stomatitis, encephalitis, conjunctivitis, hepatitis proliferative lesions. With exception fibropapillomatosis marine turtles, absence specific clinical has fostered misdiagnosis underreporting actual disease burden populations hampered potential investigations that could lead effective control diseases. In addition, complex life histories, sampling bias poor monitoring systems limited assessment impact herpesvirus wild captive collections. Here we review current published knowledge taxonomy, pathogenesis, pathology epidemiology herpesviruses.