Week 3: Viral Pathogenesis of GI tract

Question 1

Name 3 major viral groups that cause gastroenteritis

Answer 1

1. Adenovirus: by adulthood, everyone has been infected
2. Enteroviruses (Hep A): P2P or contaminated food or water. Incubation 10-12 days, symptoms after 28 days: fever, malaise, anorexia, nausea, dark urine, jaundice. Can last 2 months+.
3. Rotavirus: children, seasonal in US, anytime in less developed countries. 3-8 days watery diarrhea, vomiting, ab pain, ever. Vaccination use in LDCs variable.
4. Norovirus: highly contagious, short incubation 24-48hrs. Cruise ship virus. Symptoms for 24-72 hrs. Transmission: contam. food, fecal/oral, fomites, p2p.
5. Astrovirus: infants<1 years.
6. Hepatitis E Virus. In young adults. high mortality in pregnancy. fecal-oral transmission. Zoonotic transmission. 15-60 day incubation. long duration illness

Question 2

Name 2 tests used to detect viruses in stool

Answer 2

1. rapid enzyme immunoassay (EIA) stool test for Rotavirus, Adenovirus
2. PCR for norovirus for confirmation in outbreak

Question 3

Name the 2 viral groups that are a common cause of nosocomial infections in children

Answer 3

1. Rotovirus

2. norovirus

Question 4

Name two viruses that can cause both gastroenteritis and hepatitis

Answer 4

1. Hepatitis A

2. Hepatitis E