Viral Diseases Flashcards
What is a virus?
- submicroscopic, obligate intracellular parasite (Can’t survive outside of cell, use host machinery -> can’t replicate or express genes w/o help of living cell)
- Formed within cells from the assembly of preformed components, whereas other agents reproduce
- Virons are the complete infective particle and don’t grow. It lacks needed components that cells have to reproduce.
- No viruses known to have the genetic info needed to produce metabolic energy for replication
- When a virus infects a cell, it marshals the cell’s ribosomes, enzymes and much of cellular machinery to replicate
- Viral replication produces many progeny, that when complete, leave the host cell to infect other cells in the organism
What kind of cells do viruses infect?
- all types of living cells - animals, plants and bacteria
- viroids: small circular RNA molecules with a rod like secondary structure that possess no capsid or envelope
What is a virus made of?
A virus particle, also known as a vision is essentially a nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein shell or coat.
- Viruses are extremely small, approx: 15-25 nm in diameter
Variations in viruses?
- may be dsDNA, dsRNA, ssDNA, or ssRNA
- The type of genetic material found in a particular virus depends on the nature and function of the specific virus
- so dsDNA viruses must enter the host cell’s nucleus before it can replicate
- ssRNA viruses replicate in host cell’s cytoplasm.
- the genetic material isn’t typically exposed but covered by a protein coat. The viral genome can consist of a very small number of genes or up to hundreds of genes depending on the type of virus
The viral capsid?
- the protein coat that envelopes viral genetic material
- composed of protein subunits called capsomeres
- have several shapes: polyhedral, rod, or complex
- fxn is to protect the viral genetic material from damage
- in addition to protein coat: some viruses have specialized structures -> the flu virus has a membrane-like envelope around it’s capsid, and the envelope has both host cell and viral components and assists the virus in infecting its host
The process of the viral infection?
- adsorption: virus binds to host cell
- penetration: virus injects its genome into host cell
- viral genome replication: viral genome replicates using host’s cellular machinery
- assembly: viral components and enzymes are produced and begin to assemble
- Maturation: viral components assemble and viruses fully develop
- release: newly produced viruses are expelled from the host cell
Key components of current classification system?
- type of symmetry of the virus capsid
- presence or absence of a lipid envelope
- type and structure of the viral nucleic acid and the strategy used in its replication
What does hemagglutinin allow viruses to do?
- binds to host cells, this is how viruses can switch b/t strains so they can infect other species -> virulent, lethal to humans -> can become pandemics
What are the Class 1 viruses?
HAPP viruses: dsDNA
- Herpesvirus (cold sores, genital herpes, chicken pox, mono)
- Adenovirus (resp diseases)
- Papovavirus (warts, cervical cancer)
- Poxvirus (small pox, cowpox)
Class II viruses?
ssDNA
- parvovirus
Class III viruses?
- dsRNA coronavirus picornavirus (polio, common cold) Togavirus (rubella, yellow fever) Hep C virus
Class IV viruses?
positive ssRNA itself acting as mRNA
- Rhabdovirus (rabies)
- Paramyxovirus (measles, mumps)
- Orthomyxovirus (influenza viruses)
- Bunyavirus (Korean hemorrhagic fever)
- Arenaviruses
Class V viruses
- negative ssRNA used as template for mRNA synthesis
Reovirus (diarrhea)
Class VI viruses
positive ssRNA with DNA intermediate in replication
- retrovirus (leukemia, AIDS)
Class VII viruses
dsDNA with an RNA intermediate in replication
- Hep B virus
Viral exanthematous diseases?
- chickenpox/Herpes zoster
- infectious mono
- Roseola infantum (6th disease or Erythema subitum)
- 5th disesae (Erythema infectiosum)
- Measles
- Rubella
- Enteroviral exanthems: coxsackievirus, echovirus
What does exanthematous disease mean?
- characterized by or of the nature of an eruption or rash
- the most frequent cause of exanthematous diseases are viral infections, which provoke skin alterations either directly or via the reaction of the immune system
- in many distinct parainfectious clinical pictures, several viruses from quite different groups are able to produce a specific exanthem
Ddx of exanthematous eruptions?
- Rickettsial infections (tick borne illnesses)
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- syphilis (hands and soles)
- typhoid fever
- bacterial toxins (staph aureus: TSS -> pinpoint rash on abdomen
- drug eruptions
- live-virus vaccinations
All of the Human Herpes Viruses?
HHV-1: Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV1) HHV-2: HSV2 HHV-3: VZV HHV-4: EBV (mono: elev lympho) HHV-5: CMV HHV-6: exanthema or Roseola HHV-7: T-lymphotropic virus HHV-8: virus assoc with Kaposi's sarcoma (AIDS defining illness)
HSV 1 and 2 generally associated with what?
orolabial herpes: typically HSV-1
genital herpes: HSV-2
can affect almost all body tissue
- these are mutlinucleated giant cells, intranuclear inclusion bodies (where viral assembly is taking place)
Epidemiology of HSV
> 90% have abs to HSV-1 by age 30
- HSV 2 abs are rare b/f puberty
10-40% of general U.S. adult pop. have HSV-2 abs
Pathophysiology of HSV?
virus infects through mucosal membranes or abraded skin
- latent infections are harbored in neuronal cells: in trigeminal ganglia and in pre-sacral ganglia
Clinical presentation of HSV oral-facial lesions?
- dew-drop on a rose petal
- oral-facial lesions: primary infections: Gingivostomatitis (painful -> swollen lips) and pharyngitis most frequent, this is commonly seen in children and young adults
- fever, malaise, myalgias, inability to eat, irritability and cervical adenopathy lasts 3-14 days
- recurrence: Herpes labialis (cold sores)
Clinical presentaion of HSV urogenital lesions
- dew drop on rose petal
- caused by either HSV-1 or 2
- systemic: HA, fever, malaise, and myalgia
local: vesicular lesions of external genitalia with pain, itching, dysuria, vagina and urethral d/c, tender inguinal lymph adenopathy - usually present with early, tingly sensation and tenderness in affected area, with low grade fever
- tx during this time= best results
What is often more severe primary infection or recurrent infections?
- primary infection usually more severe than recurrences but may be asymptomatic
- vesicles form moist ulcers after several days, and crust over in 1-2 weeks if left unaddressed
recurrences often: involve fewer lesions
- tend to be labial
- heal faster
- are induced by stress, fever, infection, sunlight, chemo, pregnancy
What complications can HSV cause?
- ocular disease (#1 cause of blindness (hepatic keratitis)
- Neonatal and congenital infections
- Bells palsy (facial droop)
- Encephalitis and recurrent meningitis
- Herpes is most common cause of viral encephalitis in US
- will see disseminated herpes in immunocompromised (AIDS)
What should be tested during pregnancies?
TORCHS: To: toxoplasmosis R: rubella C: CMV H: herpes and HIV S: syphilis
Dx of HSV?
- usually clinically made
- clinical dx should be confirmed with lab testing, the dx can be made by viral culture( can’t be crusted over), PCR, Tzanck prep, direct fluorescence AB, and type-specific serologic tests. The choice of test varies with the clinical presentation
- Viral culture - 50% sensitive
- real-time HSV PCR: more sensitive to confirm HSV in clinical specimens obtained from genital ulcers, mucocutaneous sites, and CSF (amplifies the virus), its particularly useful for the detection of asymptomatic HSV shedding
- **There is enhanced sensitivity of HSV PCR compared to viral culture
What is the preferred dx test of HSV?
- PCR assay
Describe the HSV direct fluorescent ab test?
- many dx labs provide a rapid type-specific direct fluorescent ab (DFA) test to detect HSV in clinical specimens. This test is specific and reproducible (have to have an immune response though)
- What is the HSV serology test?
- type specific abs to HSV develop during the first several weeks after infection and persist indefinitely. The availability of type-specific abs has also facilitated greater accuracy in epidemiological surveys
Tzanck smear for HSV?
- Tzanck smear: may demonstrate the cytopathic effect of the virus (multinucleate giant cells), and can be performed on lesion scrapings from pts with active genital lesions. However it has limited utility since it has low sensitivity and specificity and is only helpful if +
- furthermore, only a viral culture can determine whether the infection is due to HSV-1 or HSV-2
Management of HSV?
- acute infections: antiviral agents only shorten duration of sxs by 1-2 days (acyclovir, famciclovir, valcyclovir)
- suppressive therapy: taken daily to prevent reactivation (spendy)
Where will Herpes present?
- can present on fingers (herpetic whitlow)
- in the mouth -> primary: gingivostomatitis (sores all over mouth)
- On the cornea (hepatic keratitis)
- genitals (don’t miss the cervix)
What are the 2 clinical presentations of VZV?
- primary infection: chicken pox
- recurrent infections: Herpes zoster
Epidemiology of VZV?
- humans only known reservoir of VZV
- primary infection: transmission likely by resp. route
- recurrent infection: VZV probably infects dorsal root ganglia during primary infection. Mechanism or stimulus for reactivation of latent infection in unknown.
Pathophys of VZV?
incubation pain: 10-21 days (usually 14-17)
- infected persons are infectious 48 h before onset of vesicular rash, throughout vesicle formation (4-5 days), and until all vesicles are crusted.
Clinical presentation of primary infection: chickenpox
- rash, fever (100-103F), lasting 3-5 days, malaise
- skin lesions are hallmark of disease: maculopapules, vesicles, and scabs in varying stages of development (“crops” of lesions - compared to small pox which lesions occur at same time ) on an erythematous base of 5-10 mm
- distribution is centripetal (see on trunk)
- Not as umbilicated as smallpox
Clinical presentation of recurrent VZV recurrent infection: Herpes zoster or “shingles”
- unilateral vesicular eruptions which develop within a single dermatome (T3 to L3 most common). Often assoc. with severe pain
Dxs in VZV?
- usually clinically made
- tests can include:
specialized complement fixation and virus neutralization in cell culture
Fluorescent ab test of smear of lesions