Which viral infection is known to cause warts?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the virus primarily responsible for the development of warts. Warts are benign proliferations of the skin that occur when HPV infects the epidermal cells, leading to abnormal growth. There are more than 100 different types of HPV, and certain types are specifically associated with common warts, plantar warts, and genital warts.

In contrast, other viruses listed do not typically cause warts. Herpes simplex virus is primarily known for causing oral and genital herpes, characterized by painful blisters. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects the immune system and can lead to a variety of complications, but it does not cause warts directly. Varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles, is not related to wart formation either. Thus, HPV is distinctly categorized as the viral agent linked to wart development, making it the correct answer.