Which of the following is the correct progression of a herpes simplex 2 infection?

• A. Primary infection → chronic viremia → systemic organ failure
• B. Primary infection → immediate clearance by immune system → no latency
• C. Primary infection → latency in sensory ganglia → periodic reactivation
• D. Primary infection → integration into host genome → transformation of host cells

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the nature of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), which is a DNA virus known for establishing latency rather than causing continuous systemic infection or integrating into the host genome.
2. Recall that after the primary infection, HSV-2 travels to sensory neurons where it establishes latency, meaning the viral genome persists in a dormant state without producing new viruses immediately.
3. Recognize that during latency, the virus can periodically reactivate, leading to viral replication and symptoms such as lesions, before returning to latency again.
4. Eliminate options that describe chronic viremia or systemic organ failure, as HSV-2 typically does not cause these systemic effects in its normal infection cycle.
5. Also exclude the option suggesting integration into the host genome and transformation of host cells, as HSV-2 does not integrate into host DNA like retroviruses and is not primarily oncogenic.