Questions and Answers
What is rubella known as?
What are the 3 structural polypeptides of rubella?
Two membrane glycoproteins, E1 and E2, and a single nonglycosylated RNA-associated capsid protein, C.
Describe rubella virus RNA.
It is single stranded and spherical.
What are characteristics of rubella?
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What is the pathogenesis of rubella?
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When does postnatal rubella become apparent?
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What are the clinical findings of rubella and its complications?
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What are the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control methods for rubella?
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What is rubella vaccine efficacy, composition, and duration of immunity?
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What is the epidemiology of rubella and its transmission?
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What can congenital rubella syndrome cause in infants?
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Rubella infection in pregnant women may cause fetal death or congenital defects known as congenital rubella syndrome.
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Study Notes
Rubella Virus Overview
- Known as German measles or 3-day measles, first distinct clinical entity described in German literature.
- Classified as a single member of the genus Rubivirus within the family Togaviridae.
- Unlike other togaviruses, rubella functions as a respiratory virus.
Structural Characteristics
- Contains three structural polypeptides: two membrane glycoproteins, E1 and E2, and a single non-glycosylated RNA-associated capsid protein, C.
RNA Properties
- The rubella virus RNA is single-stranded and spherical in shape.
Clinical Features
- Characterized by rash and lymphadenopathy, primarily affecting children and young adults.
- Associated with congenital rubella syndrome, which can have severe implications for infants.
Pathogenesis
- Follows a pathway: entry, spread via blood, lymphadenopathy, rash development, leading to potential fetal abnormalities like cataracts, heart defects, and hearing loss.
Onset of Symptoms
- Postnatal rubella symptoms become apparent on the day of birth, with the virus detected in blood and throat.
Clinical Findings and Complications
- Initial symptoms include malaise, low-grade fever, and facial rash that spreads to the body.
- Complications may include arthralgia or arthritis in 70% of adult females, rarely seen in children, alongside thrombocytopenia.
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
- Diagnosis involves culture, serology, and nucleic acid detection.
- No specific treatment exists; prevention achieved through attenuated live rubella vaccination.
Vaccine Information
- The rubella vaccine is composed of the live RA 27/3 strain.
- Efficacy of 95% observed with one dose, providing lifelong immunity.
- At least one dose is required for effective immunity.
Epidemiology and Transmission
- Transmitted through respiratory routes, less contagious than measles.
- Epidemic peaks occur in spring, with cycles every 6-10 years and pandemics every 20-25 years.
- By 2005, rubella cases in the USA were significantly low.
Congenital Rubella Syndrome
- Can lead to severe outcomes for infants, affecting all organs, causing death, premature delivery, deafness, cataracts, and heart defects.
- An estimated 85% of affected infants were exposed during the first trimester.
Important True/False Fact
- Rubella infection in pregnant women can indeed lead to fetal death or congenital defects, known as congenital rubella syndrome.
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Description
Test your knowledge on rubella virus infections with these flashcards. Learn about the virus's classification, structural components, and its historical background. Perfect for students studying virology or infectious diseases.
