In 1992 the two variants were recognised within Human herpesvirus 6 on the basis of differing restriction endonuclease cleavages, monoclonal antibody reactions,[2] and growth patterns.[3] In 2012 these two variants were officially recognised as distinct species by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses and named Human betaherpesvirus 6A and Human betaherpesvirus 6B.[4] Despite now being recognised as paraphyletic, the name Human herpesvirus 6 still sees usage in clinical contexts.
Human betaherpesvirus 6B affects humans. Primary infection with this virus is the cause of the common childhood illness exanthema subitum (also known as roseola infantum or sixth disease). Additionally, reactivation is common in transplant recipients, which can cause several clinical manifestations such as encephalitis, bone marrow suppression, and pneumonitis.[5]
