dsDNA virus - Poxviridae

Question 1

CHARACTERISTICS OF POXVIRIDAE

Answer 1

1- dsDNA virus

2) Have complex Capsids and Envelope
3) Second largest Virus
4) Infect many mammals
5) Most animal poxviruses are species specific
- unable to infect humans because cannot attach to human cells
6) Infections occurs primarily through the inhalation of viruses
7) Close contact is necessary for infection by poxviruses
8) Smallpox (VAIOLO) and MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM the mainn diseases of humans
9) Some diseases of animals can be transmitted to humans
10) All poxviruses produce lesios that progress through stages

Question 2

The stages of the lesion in poxvirus infections

Answer 2

1) Formation of Macule
- Red, flat
- through the epidermis
2) Papule
- hard and raised
3) Vesicle
- fluid filled
4) Pustule or pox
- pus-filled
5) Crust
- dry
6) Scar

Question 3

Talk about smallpox

Answer 3

1) in the genus of Orthopoxvirus
2) Commonly known as Variola (Vaiolo)
3) Exists in 2 froms or strains
1- Variola Major
+ casues severe disease with a 20% mortality rate
2- Variola Mihnor
+ Causes milder disease
4) Variola infects internal organs, causing high fever, malaise and delirium
5) The virus moves via the blood to the skin where it produces skin lesion (POX)
6) Scars result on the skin, especially on the face
7) It waas the first target for immunization ( Vaccination) by EDWARD JENNER
8) Smallpox is the first human disease to be eradicated (1980)
9) Several factors enabled the eradication of smallpox
+ inexpensive, stable, and effective vaccine (cowpox virus)
+ No anima reservoirs
+ Obvious symptoms allow for quick diagnosis and quarantine
+Lack of asymptomatic cases
+Virus is only spread via close contact

Question 4

Characteristic of Smallpox

Answer 4

1) in the genus of Orthopoxvirus
2) Commonly known as Variola (Vaiolo)
3) Exists in 2 froms or strains
1- Variola Major
+ casues severe disease with a 20% mortality rate
2- Variola Mihnor
+ Causes milder disease

Question 5

How does the smallpox virus infect humans?

Answer 5

4) Variola infects internal organs, causing high fever, malaise and delirium
5) The virus moves via the blood to the skin where it produces skin lesion (POX)
6) Scars result on the skin, especially on the face

Question 6

The origins of vaccination of smallpox

Answer 6

7) It waas the first target for immunization ( Vaccination) by EDWARD JENNER
8) Smallpox is the first human disease to be eradicated (1980)

but it was first rooted in chinese medicine in the 12th century

Question 7

What are the factors that allowed the vaccination of Smallpox?

Answer 7

9) Several factors enabled the eradication of smallpox
+ inexpensive, stable, and effective vaccine (cowpox virus)
+ No anima reservoirs
+ Obvious symptoms allow for quick diagnosis and quarantine
+Lack of asymptomatic cases
+Virus is only spread via close contact

Question 8

Talk about Molluscum Contagiosum

Answer 8

1) Caused by Molluscipoxvirus
2) Skin diseases characterized by smooth, waxy papules
+ Typicxally on the face, trunk and external genitalia
3) Spread by contact among infected individuals
+ Children
Sexually active individuals
+AIDs patients
4) Treatment involves removing the infected nodules
+ People with normal immunity heal witout treastment
5) Sexual abstinence prevents genital from of the disease (condoms are not protective)

Question 9

Characteristics of Molluscum Contagiosum

Answer 9

1) Caused by Molluscipoxvirus
2) Skin diseases characterized by smooth, waxy papules
+ Typicxally on the face, trunk and external genitalia

Question 10

Mode of tansmission of Molluscum Contagiosum

Answer 10

3) Spread by contact among infected individuals
+ Children
Sexually active individuals
+AIDs patients

Question 11

Treatment of Molluscum Contagiosum

Answer 11

4) Treatment involves removing the infected nodules

+ People with normal immunity heal witout treastment

Question 12

Prevention of Molluscum Contagiosum

Answer 12

5) Sexual abstinence prevents genital from of the disease (condoms are not protective)

Question 13

Talk about other Poxvirus infections

Answer 13

1) Poxvirus infections also occur in animals: asheep or goat pox, cawpox, monkeypox
2) Transmission to humans requires contact with infected animals
3) Infectionds of humans are usually mild
4) Can result in pox and scars but little other damage
5) Edward Jenner used cowpox to immunize individuals against Smallpox
6) Increase in monkeypox cases in humans over the past decade, maybe due to lack of protection to smallpox with the end of vaccination.