Question

compare and contrast Latent vs persistent viral infections

Answer 1

Comparison between latent vs persistent viral infection:

The properties of latent and viral infections are quite similar. In latent viral infection, the virus infects the cells and are not recognized by the immune system because the genome is silent. Similarly, in persistent viral infection, the immune response of the host fails to eliminate the virus that infects the host.

Contrast between latent vs persistent viral infection:

• In latent viral infection, the viruses remain inside the host cell without causing any disease to the host and it gets reactivated by immunosuppressive drugs, and malnutrition whereas persistent viral infection is a slow viral infection that is progressive over a longer period of time. Persistent viral infection continuously damage the host
• Example of latent viral infection is chicken pox- suppose if someone is infected with chickenpox during the childhood, the virus that causes the chickenpox will become dormant but it is not eradicated. Therefore, later in life if the chickenpox virus gets reactivated in the body then it may cause a new infection called herpes zoster Example of persistent viral infection is measles- measle virus may cause subacute sclerosing panencephalitis(SSPE). SSPE tends to occur several years after an individual has measles, even if the person has been totally recovered from the disease.