Arenaviruses Flashcards
1
Q
Arenaviruses
Structure
A
– enveloped, 2 RNA segments, EM looks sandy
2
Q
Lassa fever virus:
A
Lassa fever virus:
Transmission – Rats (west Africa) → human → human by infected body fluids
Clinical – 3-5 day incubation → flu-like sx, pharyngeal lesions, severe – myocarditis, pneumonia, hemorrhage
Pathogenesis – endothelial damage → capillary leakage, platelet dysfunction, ↓ cardiac function, cytokines → shock, inflammation
Sensorineural hearing loss – during early convalescence, 1/3 of cases, one or both ears, can be permanent
Tx – ribavirin, hyperimmune serum, no vaccine available, rodent control
