An AIDS patient with CD4 count of 50 cells/μL develops a painful dermatomal vesicular rash across the thorax. The virus responsible establishes latency in which anatomical site?
- A Peripheral blood mononuclear cells
- B Dorsal root ganglia ✓
- C Liver parenchymal cells
- D Germinal center B cells
Explanation
Herpes zoster (shingles) results from reactivation of Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) from latency in the dorsal root ganglia and cranial nerve ganglia, where it persists after primary varicella infection. Immunosuppression (HIV, steroids, malignancy) or aging can trigger reactivation, during which the virus travels anterograde along sensory nerve fibers to produce dermatomal vesicular lesions. In HIV patients with low CD4 counts, multi-dermatomal or disseminated zoster is more common. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) establishes latency in germinal center B cells (option D).
Reference: Ananthanarayan & Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 11th ed.
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