What bloodborne virus attacks the immune system and causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)?

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the bloodborne virus that specifically targets the immune system and is responsible for the development of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV primarily attacks CD4 cells, which are crucial for the immune response, leading to a gradual deterioration of the immune system. This weakening of the immune system leaves individuals vulnerable to opportunistic infections and certain cancers, defining the condition of AIDS that can arise from prolonged HIV infection.

AIDS is characterized by the presence of certain clinical conditions and a significant decrease in CD4 cell count, marking a transition from an HIV-positive status to AIDS. Understanding the lifecycle and impact of HIV is essential for prevention and treatment strategies in the field of public health and correctional facilities where exposure risks may exist.

The other viruses listed, such as Hepatitis B and C, while significant in their own right, do not lead to AIDS nor do they primarily target the immune system in the same way HIV does. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacterium, not a virus that attacks the immune system like HIV does. therefore, it does not relate to the question of which virus causes AIDS.