Viral infections in Dentistry

Question 1

List the Baltimore Classification

Answer 1

• Class 1 -> dsDNA
• Class 2 -> ssDNA
• Class 3 -> dsRNA
• Class 4 -> ssRNA serving as mRNA (+ sense)
• Class 5 -> ssRNA serving as mRNA template (- sense)
• Class 6 -> ssRNA serving as DNA template (+ sense)
• Class 7 -> dsDNA with RNA template for DNA synthesis

Question 2

Describe Coxsackie A virus

Answer 2

• Positive-sense ssRNA
• Causes Herpangina: sore throat, white lesions at posterior soft palate and anterior fauces of tonsils.
• Causes “hand, foot, and mouth disease”

Question 3

Describe Herpes virus Family

Answer 3

• dsDNA
• Enveloped with glycoproteins from host cell
• Remain latent in body
• Viral DNA does NOT incorporate into host

Question 4

Describe Herpes Simplex-1 virus

Answer 4

Primary infection:

• causes ulcers in mouth
• Ballooning degeneration

Reactivation:

• Herpes labialis -> cold sores
• Herpetic whitlow -> Finger infections
• Ocular herpes -> Eye infection

Question 5

Describe Varicella zoster (chicken pox) virus

Answer 5

Primary infection = Varicella (chicken pox)

1) Enters lymph nodes of throat, liver, and spleen
2) Spreads to skin and mucous membranes
3) Enters spinal ganglion

Secondary infection = Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

• Vesicles distribute from neurons, following dermatome regions
• Vesicles ruptures causing lesions.

Question 6

Describe Epstein-Barr virus:

Answer 6

• 95% of people > 40 are infected
• Transmission through infected saliva
• Targets B lymphocytes and epithelial cells
• Children have less developed immune system so less symptoms
• EBV is latent in B cells: Asymptomatically emerge in saliva where infected B cells reach tonsils
• Responsible for number of diseases:
  1) Infectious mononucleosis
  2) Oral hairy leukoplakia
  3) Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Question 7

Describe Kaposi’s Sarcoma

Answer 7

• Infects immunosuppressed patients

- Induced proliferation of lymphatic endothelial cells: raised purple patches form

Question 8

Describe Human papilloma virus (HPV)

Answer 8

• Many different types: Natural flora, wart-causing, cancer-causing
• dsDNA virus

Question 9

Describe Mumps and MEasles Virus:

Answer 9

• Negative-sense ssRNA virus
• Mumps:
  1) Childhood disease
  2) swelling of salivary glands
  3) pancreatitis
  4) skin rash
• Measles:
  1) very infectious
  2) Cough, head cold, and red eyes
  3) Intraoral Koplik’s spots
  4) Skin rash