an infection that does not produce evident symptoms but may appear at a later time.

The state in which a host is infected with a pathogen but does not show any symptoms.

A condition in which a pathogen remains in the host for long periods without producing disese

see infection, latent .

The persistence of a non-replicating infectious agent in the host.

an infection by a virus in which the virus lays dormant in the host cell

An infection that lies dormant in the body for months or years but can reappear.

Dormant stage of certain infections during vvhich the infectious agent is known to be present but is not actively replicating and cannot be detected by usual means.

Viruses which are able to down-regulate their gene expression can establish a truly latent state, i.e. with strictly limited gene expression and without ongoing virus replication. Latent virus infections typically persist for the entire life of the host.

1. Infection unaccompanied by visible symptoms. 2. See latent period. ( 21)