Discovery and biological characterization of two novel pig-tailed macaque homologs of HHV-6 and HHV-7

Abstract Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and -7 (HHV-7) are Roseoloviruses within the Betaherpesvirus family, which have a high prevalence and suspected involvement in a number of diseases. Using CODEHOP-based PCR, we identified homologs of both viruses in saliva of pig-tailed macaques, provisionally named MneHV-6 and MneHV-7. This finding supports the existence of two distinct Roseolovirus lineages before the divergence of humans and macaques. Using specific qPCR assays, high levels of MneHV-6 and MneHV-7 DNA were detected in macaque saliva, although the frequency was greater for MneHV-7. A blood screen of 283 macaques revealed 10% MneHV-6 DNA positivity and 25% MneHV-7 positivity, with higher prevalences of MneHV-6 in older females and of MneHV-7 in younger males. Levels of MneHV-6 were increased in animals coinfected with MneHV-7, and both viruses were frequently detected in salivary gland and stomach tissues. Our discovery provides a unique animal model to answer unresolved questions regarding Roseolovirus pathology.