Can my guinea pig catch human herpes (HSV-1) from me or my family?

Question

My mother currently has an active outbreak of HSV-1. Is it possible this virus can spread to my Guinea pig? I see many articles and research studies that say many anti virals we have today (for humans) against HSV1/2 are from guinea pigs infected with the virus.

Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM · Accepted Answer

Thank you for your question about your guinea pig. There are cases where herpesvirus has been spread to rabbits - this has been through kissing or having close contact with the mouth. I would not recommend that your mother, or anyone, kiss your guinea pig due to the risks. As far as the antiviral medications that you are referring to, yes, many of them are tested using laboratory animals, including guinea pigs. I hope that this helps to answer your question, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Can my guinea pig catch human herpes (HSV-1) from me or my family?

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