ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights the ubiquity and importance of environmental or pathophysiological factors which may influence a host’s susceptibility to viral infection by citing documented examples or extrapolating from other studies. Exposure to environmental drugs, hormones, or any other nonmicrobial agent can have a profound influence upon a host’s susceptibility to infectious or neoplastic disease. There are several ways that exposure to a chemical can alter a host’s susceptibility to viral infections. Immuno-stimulation is not always beneficial to the host, as autoimmune diseases may develop due to interference with immunoregulation or excessive stimulation of the helper or effector arms of the immune system. The use of pesticides is becoming more and more prevalent in both argriculture and industry. There are few studies which have specifically evaluated viral susceptibility in association with pesticide exposure. Fluctuations in hormone balance or administration of exogenous hormones may definitely have an effect on host-viral interaction.
