Background and Objectives: Infectious agents are considered one of the possible etiological factors of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It has been suggested that human HERPESVIRUS TYPE 6 (HHV-6) may trigger autoimmune disorders, but few studies have been conducted on the relationship between this virus and autoimmune diseases, especially SLE. The present study aimed to compare the frequency of HHV-6 infection between SLE patients and healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: Serum samples were collected from 60 healthy people and 60 SLE patients referred to the rheumatology clinic of Shahid-Beheshti Hospital, Kashan, Iran, from January 2020 to January 2021. The following data were collected from the medical records of patients: sex; age; duration of disease; SLE clinical manifestations; and disease activity. After the extraction of viral DNA from samples, a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was performed to detect HHV-6. Results: HHV-6 was detected in 12 SLE patients (20%) and in 8 healthy individuals (13.3%). A significant correlation was not obtained between SLE and the presence of HHV-6 (P = 0.09). There was no correlation between musculoskeletal involvements, skin lesions, renal manifestations, and hematological manifestations with the presence of HHV-6 (P˃0.05). HHV-6 was detected more frequently in patients with active lupus than in patients with quiescent disease, but this difference was not significant (P=0.08). Conclusion: Although patients with SLE had a higher prevalence of HHV-6 compared with healthy people, there is no strong link between HHV-6 infection and SLE. Future research is necessary because this data does not support the hypothesis that human HERPESVIRUS 6 plays a role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Background: As one of the most prevalent cancers in men, prostate cancer is a condition with multiple causes. Viral infections have been identified as one of the major sources of elevated incidence of prostate cancer. Objectives: The purpose of this research was to assess the association of the risk of prostate cancer and its aggressiveness with seropositivity of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) and/or human HERPESVIRUS 8 (HHV-8). Methods: Totally, 103 men with prostate cancer as cases and 81 healthy individuals as controls were included in this case-control analysis and provided a serum sample. The specific IgG antibodies against HSV-2 and HHV-8 were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To determine the association between HSV-2, HHV-8, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, and demographic variables with incidence of prostate cancer, univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were applied. Results: The results of the univariate logistic regression model showed a statistically significant association between HSV-2 and HHV-8 seropositivity, PSA level, age, and smoking with prostate cancer incidence (P  0. 20). The multivariate logistic regression model results after adjusting for the potential confounding variables showed a significant statistical association between the mean of PSA level [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 3. 44; 95% CI: 2. 15-5. 51; P < 0. 001) and incidence of prostate cancer. Moreover, the results of univariate and multivariate logistic regression model showed a significant statistical association between age [adjusted OR: 0. 88; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0. 81-0. 95; P = 0. 001] and HSV-2 and also significant statistical association was found between PSA (adjusted OR: 1. 02; 95% CI: 1. 005-1. 03; P = 0. 006) and HHV-8. Conclusions: Although the seroprevalence of HSV-2 and HHV-8 was higher in patients with prostate cancer than in the control group, it cannot be concluded that there is a significant association between the seropositivity of these viruses and prostate cancer incidence. However, the findings showed a significant statistical association between age and seropositivity of HSV-2 and also a significant statistical association between PSA levels and seropositivity of HHV-8.

Cyprinid HERPESVIRUS 3 (CyHV-3) is a significant threat to the production of common carp and koi, resulting in high mortality rates and posing a risk to the long-term sustainability of carp aquaculture. The presence of this disease in Iran has been confirmed by the veterinary organization and reported to OIE, with evidence suggesting its presence since 2021 in Iranian Koi and carp farms. Given the economic importance and rapid spread of CyHV-3, this review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge and research on the virus and its disease in Iran and worldwide.  The fish farmers and authorities in the country need to take necessary measures to prevent the spread of the disease and mitigate its impact on the aquaculture industry.