Lymphoid tissue is the site of latent infection for which of the following herpes viruses?
The options are A to D, but the correct answer is supposed to be one of them. The core concept here is about herpes viruses and their latency sites. Herpesviruses establish latency in different tissues. For example, HSV-1 and HSV-2 are latent in sensory ganglia. VZV is also in dorsal root ganglia. EBV, which is herpesvirus 4, I think it's associated with B cells. Then there's CMV, which is herpesvirus 5, and it's latent in monocytes.
Wait, the question is about lymphoid tissue. Lymphoid tissue includes things like lymph nodes, spleen, and lymphocytes. EBV infects B cells, which are part of the lymphoid system. So EBV would be the one with latency in lymphoid tissue. Let me confirm. Yes, EBV infects B lymphocytes and establishes latency there. So the correct answer should be EBV, which is Herpesvirus 4.
Now, the other options. Let's say the options are HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV, and CMV. Then the incorrect answers would be those viruses that don't have lymphoid tissue as their latency site. HSV and VZV are in sensory ganglia, CMV in monocytes. So the correct answer is EBV. The clinical pearl here is that EBV is linked to lymphomas and infectious mononucleosis. The high-yield fact is that EBV's latency in B cells is crucial for its persistence and disease.
**Core Concept**
Herpesviruses exhibit tissue-specific latency sites. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a member of the herpesvirus family, establishes latency in **B lymphocytes** within lymphoid tissue, playing a key role in its pathogenesis.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
EBV (Herpesvirus 4) infects B cells and epithelial cells, establishing latency in **B lymphocytes** in lymphoid tissues like the tonsils, spleen, and lymph nodes. This latency allows the virus to persist lifelong, evading immune surveillance. Reactivation can lead to infectious mononucleosis and is linked to lymphomas (e.g., Burkittβs lymphoma).
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** HSV-1/HSV-2 (Herpes Simplex 1/2) latently infect **trigeminal/sacral ganglia**, not lymphoid tissue.
**Option B:** VZV (Varicella-Zoster Virus) latency occurs in **dorsal root ganglia**, causing shingles upon reactivation.
**Option C:** CMV (Cytomegalovirus) persists in **monocytes/macrophages**, not lymphoid tissue.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
EBV latency in B cells is a hallmark of its lifecycle. Remember: **EBV = Epstein-Barr = B cells + lymphoid tissue**. This association is critical for understanding EBV-related malignancies and diagnostic markers like EBV-encoded RNA (EBER).
**Correct Answer: B. Epstein