Measles Flashcards
Receptor for measles virus
SLAM (CD150)
What are the two main glycoproteins in measles virus and what are their functions?
H = haemagluttinin - bids receptor. VNAb against H protein important in immune response
F = fusion protein - allows cell to cell spread
Patients most at risk of measles virus?
Under 2 years
Pregnant women
Adults
Immunosuppressed
R0 of measles virus
15-20
What impact does measles have on the hosts immune system?
Suppresses adaptive immune response which can last for months/years
Blocks IFN production
Imbalance of lymphocyte populations causinng ‘immunity amnesia’
Secondary bacterial infections are common after measles infection
Infectious period of measles
4 days before to 4 days after rash
Transmission route of measles
Direct contact, droplet and aerosol spread
Symptoms of measles infection
Three C’s - cough, coryza, conjunctivitis
Fever
Rash (starts on face, behind ears spreads to trunk - like been poured red paint on)
Complications of acute measles
Mostly seen in immunocompromised, young infants and adults
Pneumoniits (highest cause of death)
Otitis media
Diarrhoea
Keratoconjunctivitis
Secondary bacterial and respiratory infection
CNS disease
What is breakthrough measles?
Occurs due to incomplete immunity post vaccine or WT infection
Often from prolonged contact (HCW or household contacts who care for case)
Conjunctivitis often absent
Rash can be absent or atypical
Lower infectivity due to VNAb response in respiratory tract
What test what you do to confirm breakthrough measles?
IgG avidity (this will be high) - IgM may be negative
What is the likelihood of primary measles pneumonitis? What would a CXR show?
3-4% (most pneumonia caused by secondary bacterial infection)
CXR - ground-glass opacities and consolidation, bronchiolar wall thickening
What are the four types of CNS disease occurring in measles?
1) Primary Measles encephalitis
2) Acute post-infectious measles encephalomyelitis (or ADEM)
3) Measles inclusion body encephalitis
3) Subacute sclerosing pan-encephalitis
When does primary measles encephalitis occur? What would you expect to see in CSF? Is RNA detected in CSF? What is the mortality?
During or within 1 week of rash
Lymphocytic pleocytosis and mildly raised protein
Yes RNA is detectable
10-15% mortality
When does ADEM occur in relation to measles infection? What would be seen in brain imaging? Is RNA detectable in CSF?
Weeks to months post rash
Grey and white matter lesions
No RNA as this is immune mediated (Ab reacts with myelin causing inflammation)
When does measles inclusion body occur, and in which population? What are the symptoms? What tests can be done for diagnosis?
Days to months (but up to one year) post measles infection (or vaccination), only seen in immunocompromised
Altered sensorium, seizures, motor deficit, ataxia, rapidly progression to coma
Intrathecal Ab testing, PCR and IHC in brain biopsy, sequencing shows mutations in F protein
When does SSPE occur post measles? Which population does it affect? Symptoms? What is the mortality rate? How do you diagnose?
5-10 years post WT infection
Much higher incidence if infection before 2 years
Slowly progressive, personality changes, mood swings, depression > jerking movements, necrotizing chorioretinitis, muscle spasms > rigidity > death
100% mortality
Intrathecal Ab
What fluids can be tested for measles virus by PCR?
Urine (highly variable), oral fluid (optimal), THS/NPA
What is oral fluid? What tests for measles are performed on this at Colindale? How is the quality of the sample assured?
Gingival crevicular fluid
IgM (more specific than serum), IgG and RNA
Total IgG is tested, if <1 mg/L then suggests poor quality sample
When should a throat swab for measles testing be performed in relation to onset of rash?
Within 6 days
What is the treatment for measles?
Supportive - antipyretics, hydration
Vitamin A for under 2 y
Ribavirin has been used in severe infection but limited data
What are the risks of measles virus in pregnancy?
Risk of severe disease in pregnant women (esp pneumonitis)
Risk of preterm delivery and foetal loss
No congenital infection
When does post-vaccine measles rash occur post MMR? What testing should be performed?
10-12 d post vaccine, genotyping required to confirm vaccine strain