One of a group of viruses which cause herpes and chickenpox (herpesvirus Type I), and genital herpes (herpesvirus Type I).
One of a group of DNA-containing viruses causing latent infections in man and animals. The herpesviruses are the causative agents of herpes simplex (cold sore), herpes zoster (shingles), and chickenpox. Herpesvirus simiae (virus B) causes an infection in monkeys similar to herpes simplex, but when transmitted to man it can produce fatal encephalitis.
Any virus of a family, Herpes viridae, of structurally similar DNA viruses, all of which produce chronic infections, and some of which can transform normal cells into malignant ones. Included in this family are the herpes simplex viruses, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, varicella-zoster virus, and human herpesviruses 6, 7, and 8.