Measles and Rubella Flashcards
In measles, where does the rash start and where does it spread to?
Behind the ears and it spreads along the hairline to cover the body in 24-48 hours.
To diagnose measles, what should the virus produce when in tissue culture? Where should this virus be found in an infected patient?
Cytopathic effect syncytia, saliva, blood and urine.
What causes measles virus pneumonia?
Syncytia accumulation.
What is sub-acute sclerosing panencephalitis (SPPE)?
Arises 4-5 years after initial measles, brain immunologically privileged so the virus remains and fuses cells together to form clumps around the capillaries, causes loss of coordination and physical activity.
How are live, partially attenuated measles viruses made?
Being grown in non-optimal conditions to develop mutants.
On measles, what does the fusion protein allow? What is the genome of measles?
Allows passage between cells via the formation of syncytia, single stranded RNA surrounded by a nuclear protein.
In the clinical features of rubella, what type of rash develops and what is lymphadenopathy?
Macropapular, abnormally sized lymph nodes.
In rubella, what antibody is present in early illness?
Specific IgM.
If a pregnant mother catches rubella during the first trimester of pregnancy, what are the chances her child will have congenital rubella syndrome? What age do they normally live to?
90-95%, 3-4 years.
How are mutants generated for the rubella vaccine? Why cannot we not use dead viruses in a vaccine?
Virus being passed under stress, so they generate a cell mediated response.
How does interferon inhibit viral replication?
By inducing ribonucleases.
What are Koplik’s spots and illness are they are symptom of?
Measles, they are salt granules in the buccal mucosa (mouth).
