Diagnosis of Viral and Mycoplasmal Diseases

Introduction Viral Disease

Why is this (Viral) important?
Viral disease are the MCC of all human infections Affects both children and adults Immunosupressed and elderly patients High morbidity and mortality The cause of Hepatitis, AIDS, and STDs

Viral Disease
Characteristics
Submicroscopic Filterable Intracellular parasites Can be divided into 2 groups: RNA and DNA

Mycoplasmas
Characteristics
Scotobacteria without cell walls Surrounded by a single triple layer membrane Pleuropneumonia-like organism

Mycoplasmas
Why Mycoplasmas are important
Intermediate between those caused by bacteria and those caused by rickettsiae Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes atypical pneumonia and bronchitis. Also causes urethritis, infertility, early term spontaneous abortion, rheumatoid arthritis, myringitis, and erythema multiforme

Viruses and Mycoplasma

Only commonality, is their small size
Small enough to pass through bacteria retaining filters

Causes illnesses that are often indistinguishable from each other

As far as clinical signs and symptoms Frequently occur together as dual infection Serologic procedures commonly used for diagnosing viral disease are also used for diagnosing mycoplasma infection

Approach to diagnosis
Isolation of the virus in tissue (Gold Standard)
Tissue culture Direct detection in specimens ID through specific cytopathic effect Use of immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase, latex agglutination, or ELISA to identify Visualization through an electron microscope Direct nucleic acid hybridization probe and nucleic acid amplification assay

Approach to diagnosis
Serologic studies for antigen-antibody detection Cell cultures Timely and proper collection of specimen