NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The average incubation period for an initial herpes infection is 4 days (range, 2 to 12) after exposure.

Detailed explanation-2: -The success of HSV can be attributed to the establishment of lifelong persistent infection of the host, termed latency. During latent infection, no infectious virus is produced from infected cells, disease is absent from the host and transmission does not occur.

Detailed explanation-3: -Herpes simplex virus (HSV), in particular, undergoes a productive infection in the mucosal epithelium and spreads to sensory neurons where it undergoes a latent infection. Reactivation leads to virus shedding but can also lead to recurrent disease.

Detailed explanation-4: -The primary site of HSV-1 latency is sensory neurons within trigeminal ganglia. Periodically, reactivation from latency occurs resulting in virus transmission and recurrent disease.