Common Viral Pathogens Flashcards
(38 cards)
Virus vs. Bacteria
- Viruses require host cells in order to replicated
- Bacteria are living vs. Virus=infectious particle
- viral infection=virus has replicated with host
Common laboratory tests looking for actual virus
- culture w/in tissue
- assay to look for antigens
- PCR to amplify portion of viral genome
Common laboratory test looking for host immune response to virus
- ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immmunosorbent Assay)
- add host serum to viral antigen
- add tagged/immunofluorescent Ab to visualize host Ab
8 herpes viruses which infect humans
- HHV-1: Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1)
- HHV-2: HSV-2
- HHV-3: Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV)
- HHV-4: Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)
- HHV-5: Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- HHV-6: Roseola (HHV-6a, HHV-6b)
- HHV-7: Roseola
- HHV-8: HHV-8
Clinical manifestations of HSV-1/HSV-2
- oral and genital herpes; HSV-1 mostly orofacial lesions and HSV-2 mostly genital lesions
- incubation: ~4 days
- transmission: direct shedding into mucosal surface
- primary infection: usually asymptomatic, but may sometimes produce rash
- reactivated infection: can be symptomatic, but usually less symptomatic than primary infection
HSV diagnosis
- usually clinical but may use:
- Tzanck smear
- HSV culture
- Direct Fluorescent Antigen stain
- PCR of lesions
HSV treatment
- severe HSV (in neonate/immunocompromised or encephalitis)–> IV acyclovir
- oral antiviral therapy
VZV clinical syndromes
-2 main syndromes: chicken pox and shingles
Clinical manifestations of primary VZV infection
- primary VZV=varicella=chickenpox
- highly contagious
- incubation 10-21 days
- fever, malaise, headache
- itchy, vesicular rash develops starting at trunk and spreading to limbs
Pathogenesis of primary VZV infection
- entry via respiratory tract
- spreads to regional lymph nodes and replicates for 2-4 days –> primary viremia
- replicates in liver, spleen, etc. –> secondary viremia
- secondary viremia spreads virus to skin 14-16 days after exposure –> rash
Prevention of HSV-1/HSV-2
- no vaccine
- hand hygiene/physical barriers
- avoid contact
- prevent reinfection w/lower doses of acyclovir on daily basis
Primary VZV infection treatment
- usually self-limited and requires no treatment
- treatment accelerates resolution/decreases symptoms
- treatment necessary for immunocompromised patients
VZV varicella prevention/prophylaxis
- varicella vaccine: live-attenuated vaccine=2 doses @ 12-15mo. and 4-6 yrs.
- Varicella-zoster immune globulin (Varizig): reduces severity in high-risk pts w/in 4 days of exposure (=pooled Abs from people w/high VZV Ab titers)
Pathogenesis of VZV latency and reactivation
- VZV remains latent in cranial, dorsal root, or trigeminal ganglia
- no asymptomatic viral shedding
- dermatomal rash along sensory nerve from ganglion
VZV reactivation infection clinical manifestations
- VZV reactivation=zoster=Shingles
- pain where vesicles will erupt several days later
- lesions erupt over single dermatome
- lesions itchy w/pain; 2 weeks before crust over
VZV reactivation (Zoster) diagnosis
- usually diagnosed clinically
- also: Direct IFA, PCR, or culture
VZV reactivation (Zoster) treatment
- acyclovir decreases number/duration of lesions and pain
- pain treated w/NSAIDs, opiates, sometimes steroids
VZV reactivation (Zoster) prevention/prophylaxis
- vaccine=Zostavax=live-attentuated –> one dose @ age 60 to boost immune response to VZV
- acyclovir for those w/recurrent shingles (usually immunocompromised)
EBV primary infection clinical manifestations
- usually early childhood
- asymptomatic or mild febrile illness
- “infectious mononucleosis”=clinical syndrome in older children/teens/adults
- incubation 4-6 weeks
- transmission via saliva
Infectious mononucleosis signs and symptoms
- caused by EBV (sometimes CMV)
- symptoms: fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue
- signs: exudative tonsillitis, enlarged cervical nodes, splenomegaly, occasional hepatomegaly
- symptoms=4-8 wks
EBV pathogensis
- infection @ nasopharyngeal epithelium –> cell lysis –> spread to salivary glands & oropharyngeal lymphoid tissue
- viremia –> liver, spleen, infects B cells
- dormant/latent in n-p epithelium and B cells
- virus can reactivate, usually w/out symptoms of illness
EBV diagnosis
- usually clinical
- atypical lymphocytes on smear
- monospot/heterophile tests=test for Abs that agglutinate RBCs
- EBV serology: tests for Abs to EBV antigens (EBNA and VCA)
EBV Prevention/Prophylaxis
- no vaccine
- prevent contact w/infectious saliva
Cancers associated w/EBV
- Burkitt’s Lymphoma
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
- lymphoproliferative disease