Virology

PICORNA VIRUS

• Pico- = (l0¯12m=small)
• RNA = (+) SsRNA,
• Non enveloped
• Icosahedral symmetry
• 27-30 nm size.

Most stable - Non enveloped viruses; Survive holder method of pasteurization.

Enterovirus (72 serotypes)

i. Polio 1 - 3
ii. Coxsackie Virus A1 - A24 except 23
iii. Coxsackie Virus B; B1 - B6
iv. Echo Virus 1 - 34 except 10 & 28
v. Entero Virus 68 - 71
Rhinovirus; 1 - 100
Hepato virus – Hep. A (enterovirus 72)

Coxsackie Virus Group A Coxsackie Virus Group B

Serotype 1 - 24 except 23 Serotype 1 - 6
Clinical Features: Clinical Features:
Aseptic Meningitis Epidemic Myalgia or Bornholm Disease
Herpangina (Vesicular pharyngitis) Myocarditis & Pericarditis
Hand, foot and mouth Disease Aseptic meningitis
When injected in suckling mice, causes: When injected in suckling mice, causes:
Gen - Myositis Patchy focal myositis
Flaccid paralysis Spastic paralysis
Death within a week Lesions in liver, Pancreas, Myocardium, Brain
Brown fat Dads

Polio Virus:
• Natural infection only in man
• Spreads by feco-oral route
• Multiplies in Peyer's patches and tonsils
• Spreads via blood stream
• Affinity for nervous tissue (causes encephalitis, Paralysis)

On the basis of neutralization 3 serotypes:

Serotype 1 - Epidemic infection
Serotype 2 - Endemic Infection
Serotype 3 - Occasional epidemics

Clinical Features:
• Inapparent infection in 90 - 95% cases
• Minor illness in 4 - 8% cases
• Non paralytic polio (Aseptic Meningitis) in 1 - 2% followed by complete recovery
• Paralytic polio in 0.1 - 2% cases only

Lab Diagnosis:
Culture obtained from feaces, throat swab grown on Monkey kidney, Human anmion, Hela, HEp2.
Virus isolated from patient must be confirmed to be a wild virus and not a vaccine virus by Virulence
test in Monkeys or Nucleic acid hydridization or PCR.
Vaccines (Two types) are available:
Killed - Salk
Live attenuated – Sabin (Contains all 3 serotypes)

Type 2 is best immunogen hence a case of type 2 polio indicates severe immunisation failure in the
area. Risk of vaccine associated Polio - 0.5 to 3.4 cases / million.

ECHO Virus (Enteric Cytopathogenic human orphan virus)

Mostly asymptomatic
Rarely causes Respiratory and GIT infections, Pericarditis etc.

Entero viruses 68 - 71
Type 70 causes Acute Haemorrhagic conjunctivitis meningoencephalitis / paralysis

Rhino virus
Most common cause of common cold
More than 100 serotypes (thus no vaccine available)
Acid labile (hence do not infect GIT)
Optimum temperature for replication is 33°C (Hence do not grow down in lungs)

Hepato- virus (Previously known as Enterovirus 72):

Please see under hepatitis viruses.