Final answer:
The term 'provirus' describes an animal virus that has integrated its genome into the host cell's genome, enabling it to become dormant and potentially cause latent infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The animal virus that has integrated its genome into the host cell's genome is described by the term provirus.
This integration allows the virus to persist in a dormant state within the host cell and can lead to latent infections as the virus can reactivate under certain conditions.
Unlike bacteriophages, which may integrate their DNA into the bacterial genome in a state known as a prophage during the lysogenic cycle, the term provirus is specifically used for animal viruses.
An example of a virus that becomes a provirus is HIV which integrates into human DNA.
Latent viruses can remain dormant in cells such as nerve or liver cells for varying periods, and certain diagnostic tests are required to detect them while they are dormant.