Lecture 15 - Emerging Viruses Flashcards
What challenges do emerging infectious diseases pose?
- Identification: of the pathogen, reservoir, and transmission
- Therapy: lack of specific antivirals
- Prevention, control: lack of vaccines, identify index case, quarantine
- Effects on health care system: nosocomial infection, infectious material can require biosafety level 4
- Bioterror considerations
Where do emerging viruses come from?
Usually adapted to a specific host species from animals (zoonotic infections) (so humans are not the natural host)
Why are viruses usually adapted to a specific host species?
- Cell surface proteins for virus adhesion vary between species
- Intracellular replication dependent upon the presence of many species specific molecules
- Virus’ ability to block host immune system, which is species specific
How does human infection by zoonotic viruses occur? What to note?
Occurs via contact with animal/insect reservoir:
- Direct contact with carrier animal
- Contact with secretions
- Bite from an insect vector
NOTES:
- Typically geographically restricted
- Usually dead-end because human-human transmission not typical (often nosocomial)
How to prepare an attenuated vaccine?
Grow it in another species’ cell so it adapts to that other species => will cause an immune response in humans but not enough to cause disease
What 3 emerging viruses include human-human transmission?
- Ebola
- Lassa
- SARS
What 2 factors govern human infection by emerging viruses?
Ecological systems are DYNAMIC:
- Environmental variables affecting how much contact there is between humans and the reservoir
- Potential for person-to-person transmission
What is the size of the reservoir of zoonotic viruses depend on?
Climate
What does person-to-person transmission depend on?
- Amount of virus produced
2. Tissues in which virus replicates
What can allow human-to-human transmission of an emerging virus to be more efficient? Examples?
Mutations
Examples: SARS coronavirus and HIV
What does human-to-human transmission of an emerging virus often involve? Implication?
Close contact => health care workers at risk
Host of Ebola?
Bats
Environmental change causing human infection with Ebola?
Sporadic and unknown
Host of Hanta (N. Amer)?
Rodents
Environmental change causing human infection with Hanta (N. Amer)?
Rain
Host of West Nile?
Mosquitoes
Environmental change causing human infection with West Nile?
Transportation and climate
Host of SARS?
Bats and palm civets
Environmental change causing human infection with SARS?
Human behavior