Infectious threats Flashcards
(10 cards)
During the E Coli in Scotland what complication did the individuals suffer from?
How was the E Coli transmitted?
Haemolytic uraemia syndrome is a complication of the E coli infection - blood and renal effects
Transmitted through the uncooked meat at the butchers
What organism causes Q fever?
Coxiella burnetii
How did the outbreak of Q fever originate in Wales?
Drilling into the straw material at the offices that released stored Q fever
How many types of Influenza are there and how do they differ?
Type a - in birds and humans
Type B - only in humans
What type of virus is the Influenza virus?
RNA virus - enveloped into a lipid - fragile
What is the structure of the influenza virus?
contains two type of glycoprotein
- Neuraminidase
- Haemogglutinin
Define an antigenic shift and antigenic drift in an Influenza virus
Antigenic drift
- happens continuously, throughout the year and every year
- slow accumulation of H mutation (haemogglutinin)
Antigenic shift
- infrequent
- complete sudden change in the H protein
- thought to be because of the combination of the human type with the avian type
What is the complication of the seasonal influenza?
bacterial pneumonia
What structure prevents the Avian Influenza being transmitted to humans?
Sialic acid receptor on the surface of the respiratory cells in humans
- however rarely still transmits with some strains
Give an example of the virus that could be used to bioterrorism?
Small pox
