Viruses affecting the CNS Flashcards
Acute viral meningitis generally is? Bacterial meningitis is?
Mild and self-resolving
Life-threatening
Which type of meningitis is more common, viral or bacterial?
Viral
What are indicators of bacterial meningitis?
CSF glucose < 34
CSF protein > 220
CSF WBC count > 2000
CSF neutrophil count > 1100
How many of the indicators need to be positive to rule in bacterial meningitis?
One –> >99% certainty
Presentation of viral meningitis?
Pts don’t typically appear extremely ill. -Present with Fever & malaise, Headache, Neck stiffness, Low back pain (typically overshadowed by HA)
Duration of viral meningitis?
Typically self-limiting over 10-14 days
Can viral meningitis be recurrent? If so, how?
Yes, persistent or latent infections (e.g. HSV)
Most common causes of viral meningitis?
Enterovirus [80%]
What did MMR vaccine help prevent?
Meningitis caused by Mumps [10%]
- Ask about vaccination Hx
Recurrent aseptic viral meningitis can be caused by? How is it prevented? Other causes?
HSV - 2, continuous tx with Acyclovir
HIV and VZV
Viral encephalitis?
Inflammation of the brain by direct virus infection of brain tissue
Causes of viral encephalitis?
Arbovirus [30%]
Enterovirus [23%]
HSV - 1 [27%]
How are arboviruses transmitted? Time of year?
Mosquitos or ticks
Spring and Summer
Which viral encephalitis is the most dangerous?
HSV - 1
Clinical course of viral encephalitis?
Fever HA Lethargy Prodromal URI Confusion, seizures, coma, death
HSV Encephalitis can be caused by?
Acute infection or reactivation (more common)
Characteristic site of damage in HSV Encephalitis?
Temporal lobe
Genetic code of the flaviviruses?
Small, enveloped (+) strand RNA viruses
Examples of flaviviruses?
St. Louis and West Nile
Flavivirus replication cycle?
- Virus binds to membrane
- Enters by receptor-mediated endocytosis.
- Low pH dependent membrane fusion
- Uncoating from membrane
- (+) strand genome is translated into single
- Membrane-associated RNA replication (polyprotein cleaved)
- Virions morphogenesis in intracellular vesicles
- Virion transport glycoprotein maturation
- Vesicle fusion at plasma membrane –> virion release
Transmission of flavivirus?
By insect vectors
Where do flaviviruses initially replicate? What does it establish?
Site of inoculation
Transient primary viremia
Where do flaviviruses replicate post exposure as?
Macrophages, spleen, or lymph nodes
Note - it will most likely be cleared here as well
How does encephalitis occur in a flavivirus infection?
Infection is not controlled by immune system leading to a secondary viremia which results in severe systemic disease.
Where is St. Louis encephalitis virus epidemic?
North, Central, and South America
St. Louis Virus incubation period?
4 - 21 days