Presumably, the Varicella zoster virus infects
**Question:** Presumably, the Varicella zoster virus infects
A. Human skin cells
B. Human neuronal cells
C. Human white blood cells
D. Human fibroblasts
**Core Concept:**
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), also known as the varicella virus, is a herpesvirus responsible for causing chickenpox (varicella) in children and shingles (herpes zoster) in adults. The virus establishes latency in the sensory neurons after primary infection and can reactivate later in life, leading to the clinical manifestations of shingles.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right:**
The correct answer is B. Human neuronal cells. VZV primarily infects and establishes latency in the sensory neurons, specifically the dorsal root ganglia and cranial nerves. During reactivation, the virus travels back along the neuron to the skin, causing the characteristic skin rash and pain associated with shingles.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect:**
A. Human skin cells (varicella): While VZV can infect human skin cells, this is not the primary site of infection or latency. The virus primarily targets neurons.
C. Human white blood cells (varicella): White blood cells are immune cells involved in fighting infections, but VZV infects neurons, not white blood cells.
D. Human fibroblasts (shingles): Fibroblasts are cells in connective tissue that produce extracellular matrix proteins. VZV infects neurons, not fibroblasts.
**Clinical Pearl:**
Understanding the VZV's tropism for neurons is crucial for understanding its life cycle, clinical manifestations, and management of related diseases like shingles. The correct answer (human neuronal cells) demonstrates the importance of considering the specific host cell type targeted by pathogens for proper understanding of infection, latency, and disease manifestations.