HERPES Flashcards
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What are Herpesviridae?
A large family of DNA viruses causing latent or lytic infections in animals, including humans.
What does ‘Herpesviridae’ mean?
Derived from the Greek ‘herpein,’ meaning ‘to creep,’ referring to their latent, recurrent infections.
What are the major human herpesviruses?
HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV, EBV, CMV, HHV-6, HHV-7, HHV-8.
What are the characteristics of herpesvirus infections?
Latent infections, lifelong persistence, reactivation in immunosuppressed hosts, some associated with cancer.
What is latency in herpesviruses?
A state where the virus remains in a quiescent phase with its genome present but not actively replicating.
What is reactivation in herpesviruses?
The process where latent virus becomes active, causing symptomatic disease.
Which herpesviruses cause vesicular rashes?
HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV.
Which herpesviruses are oncogenic?
EBV (Burkitt’s lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma) and HHV-8 (Kaposi’s sarcoma).
What are the subfamilies of herpesviruses?
Alpha (HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV), Beta (CMV, HHV-6, HHV-7), Gamma (EBV, HHV-8).
What is the primary site of latency for HSV-1?
Trigeminal ganglia.
What is the primary site of latency for HSV-2?
Lumbar and sacral ganglia.
How are HSV-1 and HSV-2 transmitted?
HSV-1: saliva; HSV-2: sexual contact and perinatal transmission.
What is a Tzanck smear?
A diagnostic test showing multinucleated giant cells in herpesvirus lesions.
What is the treatment for herpesvirus infections?
Acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir; foscarnet for resistant cases.
What are the primary diseases caused by VZV?
Varicella (chickenpox) and zoster (shingles).
What are the complications of varicella?
Pneumonia, encephalopathy, Reye’s syndrome, congenital varicella syndrome.
What is postherpetic neuralgia?
Chronic pain following zoster, especially in elderly or immunocompromised patients.
What are the modes of CMV transmission?
Placenta, birth canal, breast milk, saliva, sexual contact, blood transfusions, organ transplants.
What is the main clinical syndrome caused by CMV in immunocompetent adults?
Heterophile-negative mononucleosis.
What are the complications of CMV in immunocompromised patients?
Pneumonia, retinitis, colitis, and systemic infections.
What is EBV’s mode of transmission?
Primarily through saliva (‘kissing disease’).
What are the diseases associated with EBV?
Infectious mononucleosis, Burkitt’s lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.
What are heterophile antibodies?
IgM antibodies produced during EBV infection, detected by the Monospot test.
What is Kaposi’s sarcoma?
A malignancy of vascular endothelial cells caused by HHV-8, common in AIDS patients.
What is the prevention for VZV?
Vaccination with live attenuated varicella or zoster vaccine.
What are the laboratory tests for herpesvirus diagnosis?
PCR, Tzanck smear, viral culture, serology, and immunofluorescence staining.
