Viruses of NS Flashcards
what is the route of entry for viruses into the NS?
via skin or alimentary tract
what are the 2 components of the PNS?
sensory and motor neurones
how do viruses spread into CNS using the PNS? what are names of the two types of transport?
1) infect peripheral NS
- travel up neuron AWAY from cell body to CNS/back to peripheral
- ANTEROGRADE VIRAL TRANSPORT
2) infect peripheral NS
- travel up neuron TOWARDS the cell body
- RETROGRADE VIRAL TRANSPORT
how do viruses use BBB to spread to the CNS?
- tight junctions joining endothelial cells which form BBB
- only small mol & few immune cells can cross
- viruses cross by infecting the endotheliium, or by infecting monocytes that can cross the barrier
what is a neurotropism?
hundreds of viruses that exhibit tropism for CNS or PNS
give an example of a virus that has evolved to enter PNS and exploit neuronal biology?
alphaherpesvirus
give an example of a virus that has no advantage for it to infect the CNS?
- often a ZOONOTIC INF
- eg rabies
give an example of a virus that causes OPPORTUNISTIC infection of CNS?
HIV, human cytomegalovirus
what are the key symptoms of viral inf of CNS?
1) Aseptic meningitis- inflammation of meninges w/ sterile CSF
2) Encephalitis- infection of brain
3) Meningoencephalitis- inflammation of brain AND meninges
4) Myelitis- inflammation of the spinal cord—>long term paralysis
what are the symptoms of meningitis?
- severe headache
- photophobia
- stiff neck
- nausea vom
- fever
- confusion
what are the symptoms of encephalitis?
- hallucinations
- confusion
- seizures
- paralysis (face/body)
- muscle weakness
- speech problems
- loss of consciousness
what can cause meningitis?
- HSV2 (herpes virus type 2)
- mumps
- HIV
what can cause encephalitis?
- HSV1
- measles
- insect borne viruses
- rabies
- polio
what is a lesser known way that viruses can enter the body?
olfactory route- - olfactory cell layer only 1 CELL DEEP before NS
which viruses use motor route to infect?
RABV (rabies) and polio
which viruses use sensory route to infect?
Herpes (HSV)
which human alphaherpesviruses?
HSV1, HSV2, VZV (varicella-zoster virus)
which animal alphaherpesviruses?
- pseudorabies virus (pigs)
- bovine herpesvirus 1
- equine herpesvirus 1
which part of the NS do alphaherpesviruses infect?
in PNS
are alphaviruses species specific or not?
yes- species specific
HSV1 infection comes from where?
describe pathogenesis
where does it lie dormant?
inside AND outside
- once replicated, transmits into neurons that are innervating the initial infection
- travels RETROGRADE into cell body
- lies dormant in TRIGEMINAL NERVE
- becomes REACTIVATED
- travels ANTEROGRADE to initial infection
OR can travel to CNS (rare)
what type of infection do alphaherpesviruses cause?
latent infection O infected for life
what causes reactivation of Herpes?
- sunlight (UV)
- hormonal (menstrual cycle)
primary HSV causes what?
- white coating on tongue, or asymptomatic
reactivated HSV causes what? occurrence is affected by?
cold sores, these are periodic
affected by: genetics
primary VZV causes what?
chickenpox, then transport into the SACRAL GANGLIA causing reactivation
reactivated VZV causes what? how common is this?
shingles (zoster) only occurs ONCE in a lifetime
can HSV cause encephalitis?
yes (HSE)
how is HSE HSV encephalitis caused?
how common is it?
who does this normally affect?
- neural invasion, the virus DOESN’T travel back to skin to cause cold sore, it travels to CNS
- the MOST COMMON non-epidemic viral encephalitis
- mostly affects elderly (immunocompromised)