4 MICROBES - THE DREADFUL VIRUSES

AIDS – background – causes – precautions – Hepatitis B – causes –

control and prevention
In the previous class you have studied how a number of diseases are being
caused by harmful microbes. In recent decades, man is facing a big threat from
dreadful viruses such as HIV and HBV.
The Human Immuno deficiency Virus (HIV) is the cause for the dreadful
disease namely AIDS-Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. Similarly the
Hepatitis ‘B’ (HBV). Virus causes a severe disorder on liver. The intensity of the
spread HIV and HBV all over the world, has forced every nation to take
precautionary measures to check the spread of these diseases.
In this unit, you will study in brief about the origin, cause, mode of spreading
and about preventive measures of HIV and HBV.
Immunity is the capacity of the body to defend itself against the disease.

4.1 AIDS: - Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome

Historical background:
It is believed that the AIDS existed from a long time but came to light
only in the 1980’s. AIDS is a condition in which the in-built defense system
of the body completely breaks down, in a gradual manner. Those who are affected
by AIDS are unable to withstand pneumonia, diarrhea, tuberculosis and even
common cold and ultimately die due to one or another of these infections.
AIDS is identified as ‘syndrome’ rather than any particular type of disease.
Thus, AIDS patients show several symptoms which occur together at the same
time.
AIDS was recognized for the first time in the USA in 1981. It was associated
with two main diseases namely pneumonia and skin cancer. Later, it was noticed
among young homosexual men and drug addicts. The next group of AIDS patients
included children and adults who received infected blood. These innocent people
became victims of this dreadful disease. Even though scientists could recognize
that AIDS was due to some infectious microbe, still it created panic among all
nations since there was no known measure to check the further spread of this
yet unidentified agent.

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Discovery of AIDS virus : In 1983, French scientists discovered the AIDS virus.
Similarly in 1984 an American virologists gave a report on the virus causing
AIDS. The international committee on the nomenclature of viruses suggested
the name HIV. Much before recognizing AIDS, the following three types of
immunodeficiency were known
• Genetic (parents to offsprings)
• Induced (transplantation)
• Acquired (sexually transmitted diseases)
In fact, immuno deficiency was specially recognized in African countries and other
tropical economically developing countries in Asia, including India. But these were
considered to be some form of old diseases caused by parasites and further
complicated by nutritional disorders. In India the first AIDS patient was officially
identified at Chennai in 1987.
It was also believed that the disease causing virus was transmitted from other
animals to man and in particular from monkeys.

4.2 Structure of a HIV :

A HIV particle is spherical in shape containing
RNA as its genetic material. It is covered
by a membrane made up of two layers of 1
a fatty material. Inside the membrane, a 2
3
core made up of proteins is found. In the
center of the core, the viral RNA along with 4
enzyme reverse transcriptase is present.
Fig 4.1
This enzyme acts as a catalyst on RNA
1. Fatty layers 2. Reverse Transcriptase
helping in the synthesis of DNA in the host enzyme 3. Protein cover 4. RNA
cell.

HIV belongs to the retrovirus group of viruses, capable of giving rise to DNA.
As and when a new DNA is formed by these viruses in the host cells, it becomes
difficult to develop a vaccine to control the disease. HIV gets adapted to the
host body so well that the body cells fail to identify this virus as intruder. Thus,
the symptoms take years to appear Ultimately, HIV destroys the natural immunity
of the body. This leads to secondary infections. Thus, the affected person is
attacked by various contagious diseases, finally leading to death.

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 Normally, the white blood cells attack the intruders and try to destroy them.
Entry of viruses stimulates the production of lymphocytes which provide immunity
against diseases. There are ‘B’ and ‘T’ lymphocytes which provide the protection
against infection. When the HIV enters the body, the body fails to identify and
thus there is no stimulation of lymphocytes to counter the viruses. At the first
stage, the AIDS viruses destroys the ‘T’ lymphocytes breaking the defence
system. Soon, the patient is exposed to various diseases till his death.

4.3 Symptoms of AIDS:

Two to three weeks after the entry of the HIV viruses into the blood, patient
develops fever, headache, pain in the joints, ulcers in the mouth and throat.
Lymph nodes enlarge. Rashes and itching of the skin may develop which may
disappear later. After these, (although no signs appear externally) the viruses
keep multiplying in the body. Gradually immunity keeps getting diminished. Just
before the full establishment of the disease, the lymph nodes enlarge the cause
of which becomes difficult to ascertain. Primarily the swelling of the lymph nodes
appear in the neck and axilla. By this time the AIDS would have fully established.
At this stage the patient may show the following conditions.
1. There is a total loss of immunity.
2. The weight reduces considerably.
3. Itching of the skin, burning sensation in the respiratory tract, cough with
sputum are seen.
4. Profusely sweats during night time.
5. Fever, body ache remain for a long duration.
6. White patches appear in the mouth.
7. Ulcers are formed in the oesophagus.
8. Memory power is affected.
Secondary symptoms of AIDS : A person infected by HIV is termed as HIV
positive
a) Giddiness
b) Headache
c) Diarrhea
d) Inflammation of endocrine glands
e) Secondary infections.
If a person is infected by HIV then he is termed as HIV Positive

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Common secondary infections of AIDS patient are:
a) Tuberculosis
b) Pneumonia
c) Herpes
d) Meningitis
e) Skin cancer
Mode of Infection (Transmission):
HIV is transmitted only by following methods:
1. Sexual contact with an infected person : Most of the HIV patients have been
infected through this method by having unsafe sexual contact with infected
patients.
2. Transfusion of infected blood : HIV gains entry into the body by receiving HIV +ve
blood, during blood transfusion.
3. From infected mother to her infant : HIV may get transmitted from a HIV +ve
mother to her child by the following means:
a) To the embryo, through the placenta
b) During the delivery of the child.
c) Breast feeding.
4. By sharing unsterilized needles and syringes with HIV positive individuals.
HIV may infect a person, but may not produce illness for a very long period.
HIV infected person appear to be very normal during the incubation period. This
period may be for eight to ten years in adults and 18 to 24 months in children. It is
estimated that 50% of the infected adults will develop AIDS within 10 years after
infection.
AIDS is an infectious disease but is not transmitted through air, water, food
etc. It is not a communicable disease like common cold, influenza or measles.
It has not yet been possible to discover a medicine for such a serious disease.
However, effort to stop the spread of disease and to relieve the patients of its
symptoms are being continued.
HIV is not transmitted by the following methods :
a) By shaking hands with AIDS patient
b) By hugging each other.

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c) By sharing plates, tumblers or other utensils
d) By sharing food
e) By using public both rooms, toilets and swimming pools.
f) By the bite of mosquitoes and other insects.
Precautionary measures :
a) Sexual contact with the persons affected by HIV should be totally avoided.
b) The syringe used by the AIDS patient should not be used by others.
c) Before denoting or receiving blood one should make sure that the person has
no HIV.
d) A mother affected by AIDS should not breast feed her child.
e) One must not become a drug addict. Injection of sedative drugs by needles can
cause AIDS disease.
Test to detect HIV :
a) ELISA - Enzyme Linked Immino Sorbent Assay
b) PCR - Ploymerase Chain Reaction
c) Western Blot
WAF- the World Aids Foundation established in 1988, (Switzerland) grants funds for the support of
research and education relating to AIDS in the developing world.

In India National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) was established in 1992. Indian Council of Medical
Research has established a National AIDS Research Institute in Pune (1992).

4.2 HEPATITIS B :
Another dreadful viral disease that has affected the human society in the
recent decades. Hepatitis B has also become a serious threat to human life.
Hepatitis means the inflammation of liver. Liver is considered to be the
chemical factory of the body. One of the main functions of liver is to carry out the
metabolism of the digested food. Liver cells are likely to be damaged due to intruding
microorganisms, toxic food items, drugs, alcoholism etc. during this process, a
pigment in RBCs bilirubin is released in the liver. This pigment gets destroyed in the
liver itself. But when the liver cells are severely damaged, bilirubin is not diffused and
its level in blood increase. Due to this, colour of the skin sclera of eye and urine turns
yellow. Such a condition is termed as 'Jaundice'. This is caused by 5 to 6 types of
virus including Hepatitis B. The types of Hepatitis are named using the English
alphabet - A,B,C,D,E...G.

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 Spread of Hepatitis 'B' : Generally Hepatitis is spread through polluted
water and food. This causes infective Hepatitis by Hepatitis A and E. But Hepatitis
B is most dangerous, it damages the liver cells at a faster rate resulting in liver
cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Hepatitis B is generally spread through blood plasma. It happens when
infected blood is transfused through syringes which are not properly sterilized,
unprotected sexual contacts, through the infected mother to the baby. It may also
spread among drug addicts, patients who under go frequent dialysis, sharing the
razor of infected person, during acupuncture, and through surgical implements used
on infected person.
Hepatitis B does not spread in any of the following situation:
Shaking hands
Eating together
About 1% of total death all
Sharing toilet or bathroom over the world is due to
Hepatitis B.
Not even by mosquito bite.
The incidence of HBV infection is 300 times more than that of AIDS. At present
China and India are the two countries seriously affected by Hepatitis B.
Symptoms of Hepatitis B :
The main symptoms are:
1. Mild type of fever.
2. Cold and flu type symptoms.
3. Indication of jaundice.
4. Severe weakness.
5. Loss of appetite, vomiting sensation.
Preventive Measures :
Vaccines are how available to control Hepatitis B. These vaccines stimulate the
body to produce antibodies. Vaccines for Hepatitis B is given three times from birth
to next six months.
Research is on to find out more effective vaccine for this disease. Indian Institute
of Science in Bangalore, has conducted successful research in this regard.
It is important to vaccinate new born babies, sex workers, hospital personnel,
laboratory technicians, nurses as a precautionary measure. Others also can get
vaccinated if there is a possibility getting infected implements totally sterilized. It is
also important to make the blood donors to undergo tests for AIDS and Hepatitis B.

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After studying the unit you will be able to...
1. explain the structure of HIV.
2. recognize the importance of awareness and the alertness towards prevention of
AIDS and Hepatitis B.
3. suggest measures to prevent and control the infection and spreading of HIV.
4. suggest measures to prevent and control Hepatitis B.
Activities:
1. Prepare a chart indicating the ways by which AIDS spreads and does not spread.
EXERCISE:
I. Choose the correct answer from those given:
1. AIDS was first recognized in USA in the year.
a. 1990 b. 1980 c. 1981 d.1992
2. Which of the following is the virus responsible causing AIDS
a. HAV b. HBV c. HCV d. HIV
II. Answer the following questions:
1. Name the disease in which the defense mechanism of the body is destroyed.
2. What is the expansion of HIV?
3. Give the expansion of AIDS.
4. What are the main symptoms of AIDS?
5. Which are the precautions taken to prevent infection of HIV?
6. How does the infections Hepatitis B virus occur?
7. What are the symptoms of Hepatitis B?

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