Diagnosis of Viral Infections Flashcards
What are 6 ways of testing for viruses?
β Electron microscopy β Virus isolation β Antigen detection β Antibody detection by serology β Nucleic acid amplification tests β Sequencing for genotype and detection of antiviral resistance
What magnification do viruses need?
β 20,000x
What magnification do bacteria, fungi and helminths need?
β 400-1000x
What has electron microscopy of viruses been replaced with?
β Molecular techniques
What can electron microscopy of viruses still be used for?
β Feces and vesicle specimens
How are virus specimens prepared for electron microscopy?
β specimens are dried on a grid
β they are stained with heavy metal (uranyl acetate)
β can be concentrated with application of antibody
β beams of electrons are used to produce images
Why does electron microscopy have a higher resolution than light microscopy?
β The wavelength of an electron beam is much shorter than light
β this results in much higher resolution than light microscopy
What are the 3 advantages of electron microscopy for viruses?
β Rapid
β detects viruses that cannot be grown in culture
β can visualise many different viruses
What are the 4 disadvantages of electron microscopy for viruses?
β Low sensitivity so you need 10^6 virions per ml
β requires maintenance
β requires skilled operators
β cannot differentiate between viruses of the same family
What does rotavirus cause?
β gastroenteritis
What does adenovirus cause?
β gastroenteritis
What does coronavirus affect?
β respiratory system
What does norovirus cause?
β Gastroenteritis
What does herpes simplex virus cause?
β vesicles
What does herpes (varicella zoster) virus cause?
β chickenpox
How can you differentiate between herpes viruses?
β You canβt with EM
β it depends on clinical context, site of vesicle and symptoms
What are the 4 types of poxviruses?
β Smallpox
β Monkeypox
β Cowpox
β Orf
What do viruses require to replicate?
β Host cells
How can you investigate cytopathic effect?
β Take a patient sample containing the virus sample
β incubate with a cell layer
β observe cytopathic effects
What two viruses have been discovered by the cytopathic effect technique?
β hMPV
β Nipha virus
How do you test antivirals?
β cell culture + antiviral
β look for inhibition of cytopathic effect
How do you identify viruses in cell cultures?
β using antigen detection
β neutralisation of growth
What viral components can be detected?
β Viral antigens
β they are usually proteins : either capsid or structural proteins
What do virus infected cells display?
β Viral antigens on their surfaces
What viruses do you take nasopharyngeal aspirates for?
β RSV
β Influenza
What viruses do you take blood samples for?
β Hepatitis B
β Dengue
What viruses do you take vesicle fluid samples for?
β Herpes simplex
β Varicella zoster
Which viruses do you take feces samples for?
β Rotavirus
β Adenovirus