RNAV: Caliciviridae Flashcards
What are the members of the Caliciviridae family?
Norovirus
Sapovirus (Sapporo Virus)
What disease is caused by norovirus?
Acute gastroenteritis
How is norovirus transmitted?
Fecal-oral route
Contaminated food/water
Aerosolized vomitus
What are the distinguishing characteristics of norovirus?
Icosahedral capsid, highly contagious, resistant to disinfectants
What is the size and shape of norovirus?
30-38 nm, non-enveloped, icosahedral
What disease is caused by sapovirus?
Gastroenteritis, mainly in children
How is sapovirus transmitted?
Fecal-oral route, person-to-person, contaminated surfaces
How does sapovirus differ from norovirus in clinical presentation?
Less severe, mainly affects pediatric cases
What is the size and shape of sapovirus?
30-38 nm, non-enveloped, icosahedral
What laboratory test is the gold standard for detecting calicivirus RNA?
Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR)
What are the target genes for qRT-PCR in norovirus and sapovirus detection?
ORF1-ORF2 junction region (norovirus)
Capsid gene (VP1) (sapovirus)
What are the common sample types used for qRT-PCR in calicivirus detection?
Stool, vomitus, environmental swabs
What key reagents are used in qRT-PCR for norovirus and sapovirus detection?
TaqMan probes, SYBR Green
What is the primary purpose of qRT-PCR in calicivirus detection?
Gold standard for rapid, sensitive detection of viral RNA in clinical and outbreak settings
What type of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) is used to detect norovirus and sapovirus antigens?
Antigen-Capture ELISA
What is the primary sample type for ELISA in calicivirus detection?
Stool, occasionally serum
What is the purpose of electron microscopy (EM) in norovirus detection?
Direct visualization of virus particles
What is a major limitation of electron microscopy for norovirus detection?
Requires high viral load (>10^6 particles/mL)
Less sensitive than molecular techniques
What is the purpose of Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA) in calicivirus detection?
Rapid detection of norovirus antigens in stool samples during outbreaks
What is a major advantage of IFA for norovirus detection?
Quick results (30 minutes), useful in field settings
What is a major limitation of IFA compared to qRT-PCR?
Lower sensitivity
What is the purpose of Immunochromatographic Assays (ICA) in norovirus detection?
Point-of-care testing, mostly in outbreak scenarios
What is a major advantage of Immunochromatographic Assays (ICA)?
Fast and user-friendly; moderate sensitivity
