Herpes B Virus (Cercopithecine Herpesvirus 1)

Characteristics
Morphology	Herpes B virus belongs to the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae, genus Simplexvirus, and is closely related to herpes simplex virus-1 and 2. An enveloped icosapentahedral virion, measuring approximately 160 to 180 nm in diameter, and has a double-stranded DNA genome. It is the only non-human primate (primarily impacting macaque monkeys) herpesvirus that has been shown to infect humans.
Growth Conditions	HFF, Macaque kidney epithelial cells (MK2), and Vero cells can be used to culture Herpes B Virus

Health Hazards
Host Range	Humans, monkeys of the genus Macaca. Experimental hosts include rabbits, dogs, mice and guinea pigs
Modes of Transmission	Humans are infected in most cases by monkey bites, but transmission has also occurred following direct inoculation of the eye or respiratory tract with the infected bodily fluids. Indirect contact, such as injury from a contaminated fomite has also resulted in human infection.
Signs and Symptoms	Symptoms typically start within one month of being exposed to B virus. Presents with fever, myalgia, headache, and/or nausea and a localized vesicular eruption near the site of inoculation. The vesicular eruption is clinically and pathologically similar to that caused by Herpes simplex virus. Fatality is high when virus spreads to the central nervous system.
Infectious Dose	Unknown
Incubation Period	Reported range is 2 days to 5 weeks, although most cases fall into a range of 5 to 21 days

Medical Precautions/Treatment
Prophylaxis	None publically available
Vaccines	None publically available
Treatment	Treatment with antivirals once it has been confirmed that an exposure occurred.
Surveillance	Monitor for symptoms. Screening assays include viral culture of the agent from swab specimens, PCR, ELISA, Western blot and PCR-microplate hybridization assay.
GWU Requirements	Report all incidents to the Office of Risk Management as well as the Office of Research Safety (ORS) IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE OCCURRENCE.

Containment
BSL-2/ABSL-2	Risk Group 4 classification is applied to Herpes B virus. BSL-2/ABSL-2 practices and facilities are suitable for all activities involving the use or manipulation of tissues, cells, blood, or serum from macaques with appropriate personal protective equipment.
BSL-4/ABSL-4	BSL-4 facilities are recommended for the propagation of viruses obtained from diagnostic samples or stocks. Experimental infections of macaques as well as small animal models with Herpes B virus are recommended to be restricted to ABSL-4 containment.

Spill Procedures
Small Spills (<1 liter)	If the spill occurred inside a biological safety cabinet, close the sash and allow the cabinet to operate for 15 minutes before continuing with the spill cleanup. While Herpes B virus exposure via aerosol transmission is unlikely, but caution should still be taken during a spill outside of a BSC. Leave the room immediately and allow the aerosols to dissipate for 15 minutes. Notify others working in the lab. Don appropriate PPE. Cover area of the spill with paper towels or any absorbent material and apply an EPA registered disinfectant effective against enveloped viruses (bleach, povidone-iodine, and chlorhexidine), working from the perimeter towards the center. Allow 30 minutes of contact time before disposal and cleanup of spill materials.
Large Spills	Alert lab personnel in the laboratory to the spill and keep people out of the area to prevent spread of the contamination. Check if you have been contaminated or if any of your PPE has been breached. If so follow exposure procedures. Remove any contaminated clothing and place it the biohazard waste. Wash your hands and post a sign on the door. Notify your supervisor of the incident and call ORS (4-8258) for assistance. If the situation involves an imminently life-threatening injury or has catastrophic potential, call 911.

Spill Procedures

Small Spills (<1 liter)

If the spill occurred inside a biological safety cabinet, close the sash and allow the cabinet to operate for 15 minutes before continuing with the spill cleanup.

While Herpes B virus exposure via aerosol transmission is unlikely, but caution should still be taken during a spill outside of a BSC. Leave the room immediately and allow the aerosols to dissipate for 15 minutes. Notify others working in the lab. Don appropriate PPE. Cover area of the spill with paper towels or any absorbent material and apply an EPA registered disinfectant effective against enveloped viruses (bleach, povidone-iodine, and chlorhexidine), working from the perimeter towards the center. Allow 30 minutes of contact time before disposal and cleanup of spill materials.

Large Spills

Alert lab personnel in the laboratory to the spill and keep people out of the area to prevent spread of the contamination. Check if you have been contaminated or if any of your PPE has been breached. If so follow exposure procedures. Remove any contaminated clothing and place it the biohazard waste. Wash your hands and post a sign on the door. Notify your supervisor of the incident and call ORS (4-8258) for assistance. If the situation involves an imminently life-threatening injury or has catastrophic potential, call 911.

Exposure Procedures
Mucus Membrane	Flush eyes, mouth or nose for 20 minutes at eyewash station.
Other Exposure	Wash area with soap and water for 20 minutes.
Reporting	Report ALL injuries to the PI immediately and reported to the Office of Risk Management at [email protected] IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE OCCURRENCE. Exposures that involve a bloodborne-pathogen or recombinant DNA also need to be reported to the Office of Research Safety at [email protected]. If the injury requires immediate medical attention, call GWPD at 202-994-6111 or call 911.
Medical Monitoring	Seek immediate medical evaluation, treatment, and post exposure follow-up at the Employee Health Office at GWU Hospital (900 23rd St., NW, Suite G-1090, Phone: 202-715-4275). Students should go to the Students Health Office at Marvin Center. After hours treatment can be received at the GWU hospital emergency room.

Stability
Disinfection	Susceptible to fresh 0.25% hypochlorite solution, povidone-iodine, and chlorhexidine.
Inactivation	Exposure to ultraviolet light and heat (56°C for at least 30 minutes) will inactivate the virus
Survival Outside Host	Tissue culture medium (pH 7.2, 4°C) was shown to result in a slight loss in viability after 8 weeks; A single episode of freezing at either -20°C or -72°C resulted in an initial loss of 2 logs of infectivity of tissue culture medium stored specimens. All infectivity is lost after storage in tissue culture media at 40°C for 2 weeks

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Minimum PPE Requirements	At minimum, personnel are required to don gloves, closed toed shoes, lab coat, and appropriate face and eye protection prior to working with HCV. Additional PPE may be required depending on lab specific SOPs. Higher level of containment will require more involved barriers such as with a positive pressure suit, or work within a class III BSC line.
Additional Precautions	Additional protection may be worn over laboratory clothing when infectious materials are directly handled, such as solid-front gowns with tight fitting wrists, gloves, and respiratory protection. Eye protection must be used where there is a known or potential risk of exposure to splashes

References
CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/herpesbvirus/) BMBL 6th Edition (https://www.cdc.gov/labs/BMBL.html) Canadian PHAC (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/laboratory-biosafety-bi…) Herpes B Virus, Macacine Herpesvirus 1, Breaks Simplex Virus Tradition via Major Histocompatibility Complex (https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/JVI.01350-12)