Pseudorabies: Difference between revisions
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==Ecology (including pathogenesis)== | ==Ecology (including pathogenesis)== | ||
Describe its habitat, symbiosis, and contributions to environment. If it is a pathogen, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Describe virulence factors and patient symptoms. | Describe its habitat, symbiosis, and contributions to environment. If it is a pathogen, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Describe virulence factors and patient symptoms. | ||
Pseudorabies is a virus that attacks the brains of animals. This pathogen is transmitted via nose-to nose or fecal-oral contact. Pseudorabies can be indirectly transmitted through inhalation, as it may exist in the air for up to 7 hours in adequate levels of humidity. The virus can travel several miles while airborne. It may last for 2 days in grass, soil, feces, and corn; 3 days in hog feed; and 4 days in straw bedding (2). | |||
The affected animal will display tremors and paddling, respiratory disease, and inhibition of aveolar macrophages, increasing susceptibility to bacterial infections. Weight loss, sneezing, and dyspnea are common symptoms. The virus spreads through the lymph nodes where it continues to replicate. Virus spreads through nervous tissue to the brain where it primarily replicates. The virus may also spread to the lungs, spleen, embryos, and luteal cells(2). Viral maturation is rapid; all viral replication stages may be complete 18 hours after onset of infection (3). | |||
==Interesting feature== | ==Interesting feature== | ||
Revision as of 02:44, 2 November 2011
Pseudorabies
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Pseudorabies
Classification
Viruses; dsDNA viruses, no RNA stage; Herpesvirales; Herpesviridae; Alphaherpesvirinae; Varicellovirus; Suid herpesvirus 1 (3).
Description and significance
Describe the disease caused by this organism if it is a pathogen, or the natural macroscopic "field guide" appearance and habitat of your organism if it is not. What is or has been the impact your organism on human history or our environment?. How does it do this? How have we harnessed this power, or tried to prevent it? In other words, how do you know it if you see it, and how does its presence influence humans in the present, and historically?
Pseudorabies is an acute, frequently fatal disease found worldwide that affects swine. Other domestic animals are also affected including cattle, sheep, cats, dogs, and goats. Wild animals that are affected include raccoons, opossums, skunks, and rodents. This virus emerged as a major pathogen in the United States in the 1960s because of the emergence of more virulent strains affecting swine populations. This virus is also referred to as "mad itch", and characteristics of infection are similar to those of rabies (2).
This virus has been reported in humans few times. Only one serotype of pseudorabies virus is recognized, but strain differences have been identified (2). Mass vaccination of all pigs on a farm generally occur to alleviate clinical signs in pigs. Regular vaccinations have controlled the virus since transmission to other animals is unlikely. Pseudorabies has been successfully removed from most areas of the United States (2).
Genome structure
Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes and plasmids? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?
Cell structure, metabolism & life cycle
Provide a physical and biochemical description of the organism. What kind of organism is it, what does it look like, how is it built, what are its metabolic properties, how can it be identified, what is it's life cycle, &c. In other words, describe the organism from its perspective.
Ecology (including pathogenesis)
Describe its habitat, symbiosis, and contributions to environment. If it is a pathogen, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Describe virulence factors and patient symptoms.
Pseudorabies is a virus that attacks the brains of animals. This pathogen is transmitted via nose-to nose or fecal-oral contact. Pseudorabies can be indirectly transmitted through inhalation, as it may exist in the air for up to 7 hours in adequate levels of humidity. The virus can travel several miles while airborne. It may last for 2 days in grass, soil, feces, and corn; 3 days in hog feed; and 4 days in straw bedding (2).
The affected animal will display tremors and paddling, respiratory disease, and inhibition of aveolar macrophages, increasing susceptibility to bacterial infections. Weight loss, sneezing, and dyspnea are common symptoms. The virus spreads through the lymph nodes where it continues to replicate. Virus spreads through nervous tissue to the brain where it primarily replicates. The virus may also spread to the lungs, spleen, embryos, and luteal cells(2). Viral maturation is rapid; all viral replication stages may be complete 18 hours after onset of infection (3).
Interesting feature
Describe in detail one particularly interesting aspect of your organism or it's affect on humans or the environment.
References
(1) http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/102200.htm The Merck Veterinary Manual.
(2)http://www.uwex.edu/ces/animalscience/swine/documents/pih-38pseudo.pdf Thawley, D., Gustafson, D., and Ormiston, R. "Pseudorabies (Aujeszky's Disease)". Pork Industry Handbook. Herd Health.
(3)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=101947&lvl=3&lin=f&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock. "Pseudorabies Virus Ea". NCBI.
(6) http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/full/78/1/424 Klupp, B., Hengartner, C., Mettenleiter, T., and Enquist, L. "Complete, Annotated Sequence of the Pseudorabies Virus Genome". Journal of Virology. 2004. Volume 78. p. 424-440.
