Micro & Immunology · single question
Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by reactivation of which virus?
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Correct answer: A. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)
Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) causes two distinct clinical manifestations: varicella (chickenpox) on primary infection, and herpes zoster (shingles) upon reactivation from sensory ganglia. VZV lies dormant in the dorsal root ganglia (or trigeminal ganglia in the head/neck) and reactivates with stress, immunosuppression, or aging. Shingles typically follows a dermatomal distribution and can affect cranial nerves causing oral or facial manifestations.
- A. Correct. Shingles results from reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus (the same virus that causes chickenpox), which resides in dorsal root/cranial ganglia.
- B. HSV-1 causes herpes labialis and primary herpetic gingivostomatitis, not shingles.
- C. EBV causes mononucleosis and hairy leukoplakia.
- D. Coxsackievirus A causes hand-foot-and-mouth disease and herpangina.
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