text: Herpesviruses are ubiquitous pathogens infecting a variety of animals, including humans. Hosts include many economically important species such as abalone, oysters, salmon, poultry (avian infectious laryngotracheitis, Marek's disease), cattle (bovine malignant catarrhal fever), dogs, goats, horses, cats (feline viral rhinotracheitis), and pigs (pseudorabies). Infections may be severe and may result in fatalities or reduced productivity. Therefore, outbreaks of herpesviruses in livestock cause significant financial losses and are an important area of study in veterinary virology.