Bacterial & Viral Lymphadenitis Flashcards
Important properties of Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV)
- Structurally similar to herpesviruses but antigenically different
- Antigens :
1. Viral Capsid Antigen (VCA): most important (diagnosis )
2- Early antigens (EA): produced before viral DNA synthesis (diagnosis)
3- Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA): located in nucleus bound to chromosomes (diagnosis).
4- Lymphocyte-determined Membrane Antigen
5- Viral Membrane Antigen :
Neutralizing activity is directed against it
How is EBV is transmitted ?
- Exchange of saliva (e.g., during kissing)
2. Blood transmission (very rare)
How are the Nonspecific heterophil antibodies are found ?
- Heterophil antibodies: are detected by tests using antigens different from antigens that induced them.
- They agglutinate sheep or horse red blood cells in laboratory
- Heterophil antibodies disappear within 6 months after recovery.
- They are not specific for EBV (seen in hepatitis B & serum sickness.)
EBV infection modifies cell membrane constituent such that it becomes______ & induces______
Antigenic - heterophil antibodies
Where does EBV infection occur & infects which cells ?
Infection occurs in epithelial cells of oropharynx infects lymphoid cells (B lymphocytes)
How EBV remain latent ?
EBV remains latent within B lymphocytes (EBV DNA is in nucleus not integrated into cellular DNA)
- Cytotoxic T lymphocytes react against infected B cells
IgM to VCA pathogenesis ?
IgM to VCA: first immune response ——> diagnosing acute infection
IgG to VCA pathogenesis?
IgG to VCA: persists for life ——-> past infection
Describe the life immunity in EBV
Lifetime immunity against infectious mononucleosis is due to antibody to viral membrane antigen
Clinical findings of EBV
- Infectious mononucleosis is characterized by
* fever
* sore throat
* lymphadenopathy & splenomegaly - Hepatitis is frequent
- Encephalitis occurs in some patients
- X- linked lymphoproliferative syndrome:
* inherited immunodeficiency in children
* severe, fatal, progressive form of infectious mononucleosis - hairy leukoplakia
* whitish, nonmalignant lesion with an irregular “hairy” surface on the lateral side of the tongue
* in immunocompromised individuals
* e.g. AIDS patients
Which diseases are associated with EBV ?
- Several cancers
* Burkitt’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma) is associated with EBV infection - Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (e.g. B-cell lymphoma) is EBV-associated disease
State the Diagnostic tests for EBV
- Hematologic approach:
- Immunologic approach; two types of serologic tests
- Isolation EBV
What is the Hematologic approach?
- Absolute lymphocytosis with 30% abnormal lymphocytes
- Atypical lymphs are enlarged, have expanded nucleus & abundant, often vacuolated cytoplasm
- They are cytotoxic T cells reacting against the EBV-infected B cells
Mention the types of serologic tests in EBV
- Heterophil antibody test:
- Useful for early diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis because it is positive by week 2 of illness
- Antibody titer declines after recovery not useful for detection of past infection
- EBV-specific antibody tests (difficult cases )
- IgM VCA antibody detect ——> early illness
- IgG VCA antibody detect —-> past infection
- Antibodies to EA & EBNA can be useful diagnostically
- Monospot test is used to detect heterophil antibody (more sensitive & specific & less expensive)
IgM VCA Ab detect ?
detect early illness