When the virus stays within the body of the host while continuously replicating and remaining infectious, that is termed as a persistent viral infection. Accordingly, the key difference between the two stages of viral infections is, clinical features are present only during the persistent stage and not in the latent stage.
What is Latent Viral Infection?
Latent infection is defined as the time
from the onset of the infection to the appearance of virus
extracellularly. Since the viruses multiple at a rapid rate, by the end
of the latent period billions of viral particles are produced. In this
situation the virus exists in an occult noninfectious form.
Following viruses and viral infections can be taken as examples of latent viral infections.
- Congenital rubella, HIV, hepatitis B, CMV (chronic infections)
- HSV,VZV
- Retroviral infections in some patients with genetic mutations
- adenovirus
What is Persistent Viral Infection?
When the virus stays within the body of
the host while continuously replicating and remaining infectious, that
is termed as a persistent viral infection. Clinical features of an
infection appear during this stage of the infection. The persistence of
viral infection is partially contributed by the virus not interrupting
the vital metabolic processes of the host cells.
What is the Difference Between Latent and Persistent Viral Infection?
Latent vs Persistent Viral Infection |
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Latent infection is defined as the time from the onset of the infection to the appearance of virus extracellularly. | When the virus stays within the body of the host while continuously replicating and remaining infectious, that is termed as a persistent viral infection. |
Summary – Latent vs Persistent Viral Infection
Latent infection is defined as the time
from the onset of the infection to the appearance of virus
extracellularly. When the virus stays within the body of the host while
continuously replicating and remaining infectious, that is termed as a
persistent viral infection. Patient becomes clinically ill only during
the latent infection and not in the persistent infection. This is the
difference between these two stages.
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