Virology Flashcards
What are the normal routes of transmission for poxviruses?
Aerosol droplets
Mechanical transmission by arthropod vector (not an arbovirus!!)
Contact
How are poxviruses usually diagnosed?
On the basis of clinical signs
If needed, electron microscopy and histopathology
African swine fever is the only member of what family? It is the only DNA virus that….?
Asfarviridae
Can be regarded as an arbovirus
How is African swine fever (family: asfarviridae) transmitted?
By soft ticks (ornithodoros). Ticks become infected when they feed off viraemic warthogs. Infection within the tick population is by sexual, transovarial and transstadial transmission.
Infection is also transmitted from pig to pig by contact and aerosol
Is African Swine Fever single or double stranded rna/DNA?
ds DNA
Are viruses of Reoviridae enveloped or not? What important diseases of this family did we learn about?
Non-enveloped
Genus orbivirus:
African horse sickness
Bluetongue virus
Genus rotavirus (general)
What is the general pathogenesisof orbiviruses (family reoviridae)?
Transmitted via a blood feeding insect-> primary replication in regional lymph nodes-> spread to the spleen, thymus and other lymph nodes-> viral replication in endothelial cells-> endothelial cell damage and vascular injury -> capillary leakage, haemorrhage and intravascular coagulopathies
What is Bluetongue and what animals does it effect? What vector is important for its transmission?
A non-contagious disease (orbivirus) of sheep, cattle, goats and deer which is spread by biting insects (culicoides midges)
What are some characteristic signs of bluetongue? Which animals are most severely affected and what is the incubation period?
Fever
Hyperaemia
Vascular congestion
Oedema
Sheep (and deer)
Up to 10 days
What is the outcome for sheep with Bluetongue?
Most recover although convalescence is prolonged.
Foetal death, abortions etc may arise if pregnant ewes are infected
Describe briefly the epidemiology of Bluetongue.
Dependent on host-agent-environment interactions. Outbreaks are most commonly seen in late summer (in tropical and sub tropical climates) when the density of culicoides is greatest (warm conditions with high humidity).
The female midge remains infected for life!
How is Bluetongue diagnosed? How might it be controlled?
On basis of clinical signs.
Can use PCR, ELISAs etc.
Vaccinations in endemic countries (but these need to be polyvalent to enable cross-protection between serotypes).
Larvicides?
Where is African horse sickness endemic? What is the incubation period?
What is the main vector species?
Tropical and subtropical Africa
Up to 7 days
Culicoides imicola
What are the four clinically recognised forms of African Horse Sickness?
- Pulmonary form= peracute, high fever, depression, nasal discharge, severe respiratory distress, dyspnoea, coughing, pulmonary oedema and pleaural effusion (predominant feature). More than 95% affected will die.
- Cardiac form= subacute, fever, conjunctivitis, abdominal pain and progressive dyspnoea. Subcut oedema of head and neck (supraorbital fossa, palpebral conjuncytiva and intermandibular space). Hydropericardium is a consistent PM finding
- Mild= seen in zebras and donkeys. Low grade fever with occasional clinical signs such as congested mucous membranes.
- Mixed= signs of both pulmonary and cardiac form. Diagnosed at PM
What are reservoir hosts for African Horse Sickness?
Zebras (donkeys and mules may also play a role)
How might African Horse Sickness be controlled?
Movement restriction, quarantine, vector control (insect screens, pesticides). Vaccines are available
Are rotaviruses enveloped or not? What do they cause and in what animals?
Non-enveloped. Cause serious diarrhoea in intensively raised do,enticing animals worldwide. Particularly calves and foals
Rotaviruses:
What is their incubation period?
What is their pathogenesis?
Less than 24 hours
Faeco-oral route. Viruses passes through stomach and infects enterocytes at apical tips of villi➡️ villi shortening/fusion, inflammatory cell infiltration and viral replication.
Infected cells lyse and are replaced by immature cuboidal cells which have decreased absorptive capacity and surface area. This leads to osmotic diarrhoea and increased undigested disaccharides in intestinal lumen
How is NSP4 important in rotavirus infections?
Enterotoxin that causes inflammatory and secretory diarrhoea
What are some clinical signs of rotavirus infection?
Depression, anorexia, light-coloured semi-liquid faeces
Why is isolation of rotavirus not a common diagnostic method?
Why is vaccination of neonates problematic?
Because they are difficult to grow in cell culture.
Bc gut immunity is needed which requires oral exposure
Live oral vaccines are neutralised by maternal antibodies. Therefore should vaccinate dam to increase lactogenic immunity
What are the three forms of equine encephalitis virus (family togaviridae)? What are the reservoir hosts and which form is most severe?
Eastern>Venezuelan>Western
Passerines are reservoirs
What are some clinical signs associated with equine encephalitis?
Photophobia, inability to swallow, low carriage of the head, depression, blindness, wide base stance…
What is the vector species responsible for spread of eastern equine encephalitis? How about for western and Venezuelan?
Eastern= culiseta melanura (ornithophilic) mosquitoes transmit it between birds. Aedes transmit it from birds to mammals.
Venezuelan and wester= culex spp.