HSV-2 commonly becomes latent in which structure?

• A. Sciatic nerve
• B. Sacral root ganglia
• C. Pudendal nerve
• D. Lumbar root ganglia

Answer: (B)

Herpes simplex virus type 2 tends to lie dormant in sensory ganglia, with the site determined by where the initial infection occurs. For genital HSV-2, the virus travels to and remains latent in the dorsal root ganglia of the sacral spinal nerves. These ganglia serve the genital region, so reactivation causes lesions in the same sacral dermatomes. Peripheral nerves like the sciatic or pudendal nerves aren’t where latency is stored, and lumbar root ganglia aren’t the typical reservoir for genital HSV-2.