Case 2: Mononucleosis Epstein-Barr Flashcards
what are the presenting symptoms of mononucleosis?
fever, heaache, sore throat, severe fatigue, difficulty swallowing
enlarged tonsils with exudates
posterior cervical lymph nodes are enlarged and tender
enlarged spleen and palpable liver that’s tender
what are the lab results of someone with mono?
leukocytosis = high WBCs
lymphocytosis
monocytosis
abnormal cells
what test is done to diagnose mono?
monospot test
which virus causes mono?
EBV
Epstein-Barr virus which is part of the herpes virus
what are the characteristics of herpesviruses?
DNA viruses
they have a strong ability to persist indefinitely in a latent form after acute
infection, with subsequent reactivation during host immunosuppression
what are the three subfamilies of herpesviruses?
α-herpesviruses, which include HSV-1, HSV-2, and varicella virus, grow rapidly
in many types of cells including epithelial cells and neurons
β-herpesviruses, which include CMV and human herpesvirus types 6 and 7
(HHV-6 and 7), grow in specific cells types
γ-herpesviruses, which include EBV and Kaposi sarcoma-associated virus
(KSHV, also known as HHV-8), grow slowly in lymphoid cells
what are the characteristics of EBV
γ-herpesvirus
enveloped, linear dsDNA virus
what are the 3 viral antigens associated with EBV?
VCA = viral capsid protein
EA = early antigen
EVNAs = epstein-barr nuclear antigens
what is EBVs tropism?
B lymphocytes
which cancers is EBV associated with?
Burkitt lymphoma in Africa
nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Asia
how is EBV transmitted?
salivary secretion like kissing or close physical contact
typical IM occurs primarily in developed countries, where the major method of
spread is kissing, whereas in nonindustrialized countries, the majority of infections
occur during childhood
