A latent viral infection is one in which:

• A. the virus remains in the host for long periods with little or no production of infectious virions, but can reactivate to produce active infection later
• B. the virus is rapidly cleared by the immune system within days, leaving no viral genome in host cells
• C. the virus continuously produces and releases infectious virions at a steady rate without periods of dormancy
• D. the virus causes an immediate, severe illness due to overwhelming lytic replication in most infected cells

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definition of a latent viral infection: it is a type of infection where the virus remains in the host cells for an extended period without producing new infectious particles actively.
2. Recognize that during latency, the viral genome persists in host cells in a dormant state, meaning there is little or no production of infectious virions.
3. Note that latent viruses can reactivate later, switching from dormancy to active replication, which leads to the production of infectious virions and potential symptoms.
4. Contrast latency with other viral infection types: rapid clearance means no persistence, continuous production means no dormancy, and immediate severe illness indicates active lytic replication rather than latency.
5. Conclude that the correct description of a latent viral infection is the one where the virus remains in the host for long periods with little or no production of infectious virions but can reactivate to produce active infection later.