Description
Human betaherpesvirus 5 (HCMV, human cytomegalovirus, HHV-5), which is the species that infects humans, causes mononucleosis and pneumonia.
HCMV is known to be an opportunistic pathogen. Thus the intense activation of the immune system after organ transplantation provides an ideal opportunity for the HCMV virus to reactivate and replicate in seropositive recipients.