Viral Infections Flashcards
What is the viral envelope
Lipid bilayer derived from host cell membrane
Not present in all viruses
Contains viral glycoproteins (spikes) that project from the membrane to attach to cells
Interaction between capsid and envelope is mediated by viral matrix protein
What does the viral envelope do
Determines the stability of virions outside the host and correlates with mode of transmission
Non-enveloped viruses are stable in the environment; may be transmitted by food or water (e.g. noroviruses)
Enveloped viruses often survive only transiently outside the host and infectious viruses do not persist in the environment (e.g. HIV)
What does IgM represejnt
acute or recent infection
What is viral hep
Inflammation of the liver
Wide spectrum of clinical diseases
What is type A viral hep
faecal oral transmission
What is type B viral hep
parenteral transmission
What heps cause chronic infection
Hep B +/- D and C can cause chronic infection
Associated with: persistent infection, chronic liver disease, chronic active or persistent hep, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma
What heps do not cause chronic infection
Hep A does not cause chronic infection
Hep E does not usually cause chronic infection but it can do in immunocompromised patients
Route of transmission, incubation similar
How is viral hep diagnosed
Liver function tests: aminotransferases (high 100s)
Serology: antigen, IgM, IgG, alpha fetoprotein (hepatocellular carcinoma)
Molecular qualitative, quantification, genotyping
Imaging: fibroscan and ultrasound (assess liver fibrosis, fatty deposits and general composition)
Histopathology: liver biopsy
What is hep A
ss RNA unenveloped Hepatovirus (more stable in GI tract)
Endemic worldwide Incubation period 3-5 weeks, median 4 weeks
Faeco-oral transmission
Rare parenteral transmission
Detect HAV IgM in blood samples
How can hep A be prevented
Jaundice: considered infectious from 2 weeks before to 7 days after jaundice onset Sanitary disposal of waste Good hygiene Active - hep A vaccine Passive - human normal immunoglobulin
What is hep E
Ss RNA unenveloped virus
Foodborne zoonosis: undercooked meat products i.e. pork sausages
Evidence of transmission by blood transfusion
Sporadic and epidemic forms
Incubation 6 weeks
How is hep E in immunocompromised px treated
ribavirin (antiviral agent) or interferon (immunomodulator)
How is hep E detected
Detect HEV IgM in blood samples
HEV RNA detection and quantification
What is hep B
Partially ds DNA Hepadnavirus (has reverse transcriptase)
Narrow host range
E antigen is shed, which can be detected
6 weeks to 6 months, median 2.5 months
Sexual intercourse, blood and blood products injecting drug use, tattoos
When hep B surface antigen persists in circulation for over 6 months, classified as a carrier state
What are the two types of acute hep B infection
icteric (resolves just jaundiced) and anicteric (carrier state, causes cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma)
What does HB core antibody contain
IgM and IgG.
What is HBsAg
A protein on the surface of hepatitis B virus; it can be detected in high levels in serum during acute or chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The presence of HBsAg indicates that the person is infectious
What is HB core antibody
Appears at the onset of symptoms in acute hepatitis B and persists for life. The presence of anti-HBc indicates previous or ongoing infection with hepatitis B virus in an undefined time frame.
What is HB core IgM
persists for 3 months after infection
What is anti-HBs
The presence of anti-HBs is generally interpreted as indicating recovery and immunity from hepatitis B virus infection.
What is HB e antigen
is an indicator of active viral replication; this means the person infected with Hepatitis B can likely transmit the virus on to another person
What is delta hep
Ss RNa enveloped by HBsAg
Defective virus
Coinfection, acute delta infection is self-limiting as it cannot survive without HBsAg
What is hep C
ss RNA enveloped Flavivirus, with 6 genotypes
Incubation 6-12 weeks
How is hep B prevented
Passive immunisation: hepatitis B immunoglobulin use if mother is E antigen positive
Active: recombinant vaccine
Antiviral: Lamivudine, adefovir, tenofovir, entecavir, emtricitabine
Immunomodulators: interferon