Paramyxoviruses. Mumps Virus

Question 1

Classification

Answer 1

Family: Paramyxoviridae

Genus: Rubulavirus

Species: Mumps virus

(Hint: occurs in the night time, with clothes on)

This family includes the causative agents of the 2 most important common contagious diseases of childhood:

• Mumps virus —> mumps
• Measles virus —> measles

Question 2

Characteristics

Answer 2

• enveloped virus
• helical nucleocapsid
• -ssRNA
• virion RNA polymerase
• one serotype
• cytoplasmic replication

Question 3

Transmission

Answer 3

• respiratory droplets

Question 4

Pathogenesis

Answer 4

• initial site&raquo_space;> Upper respiratory tract (replicates)
• the virus spreads to the local lymph nodes
• then via the bloodstream to other organs, especially the parotid glands, testes, ovaries, meninges, kidneys and pancreas
• the most characteristic feature of asymptomatic cases —> swelling of the salivary glands —> occurs in about 50% of patients

Question 5

Disease

Answer 5

Mumps

Question 6

Microbiological diagnosis

Answer 6

Identification - CPE (with large syncytia) in cell culture

> some cells do not produce CPE —> detected by hemadsorption test

• diagnosis can also be made serologically —> ELISA, Neutralization …
• PCR assay is available

Question 7

Treatment and prevention

Answer 7

Treatment:

No antiviral drug

Prevention:

• Live Attenuated Vaccine
• given in combination with measles and rubella = MMR vaccine (trimovax)