Pathology · single question
A patient has recurrent herpes labialis. The virus stays latent in the trigeminal ganglion. When reactivated, it travels to the oral mucosa through:
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Correct answer: C. Axons of sensory neurons
- A. HSV does not travel via the bloodstream during reactivation.
- B. HSV does not travel via lymphatics during reactivation.
- C. Correct. HSV travels along the axons of sensory neurons from the trigeminal ganglion to the site of reactivation in the oral mucosa/perioral skin.
- D. Saliva is not the transport mechanism for viral reactivation within the host (though it can be a vehicle for transmission to others).