Pathogenesis > Infectious Disease > Viral > Picornavirus

Picornavirus

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picornavirus = “little RNA virus” (picoRNAvirus)

this family of viruses have similar structure and replication
there are two genera:  enterovirus and rhinovirus

 

 

enterovirus:

infect intestinal epithelial and lymphoid (tonsils, Peyers patches) cells
spread by fecal-oral route
hepatitis A virus, poliovirus, Coxsackie A, B, and echovirus

 

Hand, Foot and Mouth disease:

pathogen = coxsackie A16
mild symptoms of low grade fever, sore-throat
enanthem: 90%;  apthae-like erosions, small and asymptomatic
cutaneous lesions:  2/3 of patients…
within 24 hours of enanthem
red macules that rapidly become pale, white, oval to cigar-shaped vesicles with a red areola
hands and feet, especially palms and soles
heal in 7 days without crusting or scarring
no treatment needed

 

culture virus from stool;  acute and convalescent serum titers
histology:  reticular degeneration (multilocular blisters vs. herpes virus)

 

 

 

 

most common etiology of non-specific “viral exanthems” - echovirus and coxsackiviridae; a non-specific exanthem with non-specific viral systemic symptoms.