Dr Channa Senanayake

Dept of Microbiology

Respiratory Viruses
Respiratory viral infections have a major
impact on health

Acute respiratory illnesses caused by the

viruses are the most common illness for
other wise healthy adults and children

Respiratory Viruses
Tecumesh study a family based study of
respiratory illness
Respiratory viral infections result in a total of
2.4 illnesses per person per year
25% of these illnesses result in consultation
with a physician
Illness rates [per all acute respiratory conditions
are highest in young children. Children < 9 yrs
are estimated to experience between 5-9
respiratory illnesses per year
Adult experience between 3-5 such illnesses

Respiratory Viruses
Why do so many respiratory infections
occur
Hundreds of different serotypes- immunity
against one serotype will only partially protect
against a different serotype
Main defense- IgA which is not long lasting
Mobility of infected individuals due to
Often the trivial nature
Shedding of virus during the Incubation
period

Clinical syndromes associated with

respiratory viruses

1. Common cold-

Nasal stuffiness
Sneezing
Running nose
Sore throat
Chills and malaise

Causative viruses- Rhinoviruses, corona

parainfleunza viruses, RSV and

viruses,
adeno viruses

Clinical syndromes associated with

respiratory viruses
2. Pharyngitis
Sore throat together with objective
evidence pf pharyngeal inflammation
Clinical features : Fever pharyngitis,
bilateral conjunctivitis
Causative viruses: Rhinoviruses,
parainfleunza viruses, adenoviruses,
influenza viruses, Herpangina

Clinical syndromes associated with

respiratory viruses
3. Croup (Acute laryngotracheobronchitis)
Clinical features :
Predominantly affect children under 3 yrs
Usually begins with rhinorrhoea and sore
throat
Cough with a barking quality
Causative viruses : Parainfleunza virus1,2
and 3, influenza type A, Adenoviruses

Clinical syndromes associated with

respiratory viruses
4. Tracheitis and tracheobronchitis
Clinical features
Retrosternal discomfort during inspiration
Productive paroxysmal cough
Causative viruses : influenza virus type A
and B

Clinical syndromes associated with

respiratory viruses
5. Bronchiolitis
Characteristically a pediatric infection with
an obstruction to expiratory air flow
Causative viruses : RSV, Parainfleunza
virus type 3

Clinical syndromes associated with

respiratory viruses
6. Viral pneumonia
Its defined as by the development of
abnormalities of alveolar gas exchange
accompanied by inflammation of the lung
parenchyma , often associated with visible
changes on CXR
Causative viruses :
Adults influenza A, B and adenoviruses
Children RSV, Parainfleunza virus type
3,
Influenza A, Measles virus

Influenza viruses
Size 120 mm
Belongs to the family of Orthomyxoviridae
Enveloped viruses with segmented RNA
genomes
the surface is covered with HA
( haemagglutinins) and NA
(neuraminidase) spikes
Subtypes occur only among influenza
virus A

Influenza viruses
There are 15 distinct HA subtypes and 9
subtypes
Viruses are named on the basis of type,
location of isolation, serial number from
that location, year of isolation, and in the
case of influenza A viruses subtypes of the
HA and NA antigens
Eg A/Swine/scotland/42/1990/H3N1

Influenza viruses
The most recent out break has been by
Influenza virus H5N1which is also called
the Avian influenza virus
The changing antigenicity of influenza
viruses permits continued circulation in
human population and make their
behaviour unpredictable.

Influenza viruses
Antigenic drift :
Relatively minor changes due to point
mutation in the gene segment coding for HA
and NA

Antigenic shift :
Occurs only in influenza A viruses due to
acquisition of new gene segment/s encoding
HA and NA

Parainfluenza viruses (PIV)

Belongs to the family paramyxoviridae

Three subfamilies
1. Parainfluenza virus- PIV1,2,&3, mumps virus
2. Morbillivirus Measles virus
3. Pneumovirus - RSV