Description of the Pathogens Viruses of the families Filoviridae and Arenaviridae are composed of single-stranded RNA in lipid envelopes. The Filoviridae family of viruses is further divided into three genera: Ebolavirus , Marburgvirus , and Cuevavirus . Within the genus…
Acknowldgment The authors acknowledge substantial contributions to this chapter from work of Joseph Bresee in previous editions. Influenza viruses cause annual winter epidemics of respiratory illness in temperate climates and have resulted in four influenza pandemics since 1900. The global…
The Virus Rabies virus and 17 bat lyssaviruses are members of the Rhabdoviridae family, genus Lyssavirus, which is derived from the Greek word lyssa, meaning “madness.” Rabies derives from the Sanskrit word rabhas, which means “to do violence.” Rabies virus…
Rubeola (i.e., measles) is an acute, highly contagious, vaccine-preventable viral infection. , In the prevaccination era, measles was an almost universal experience during childhood. The incidence of measles declined markedly in the US after the licensure of a live measles…
Description of Pathogen Human metapneumovirus (HMPV, MPV) was first described in 2001 by Dutch investigators who collected a number of unidentified virus isolates over a 20-year period. Electron micrograph and biochemical studies of the virus showed that it was pleomorphic…
Lower respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the US and other industrialized countries results in hospital admission for approximately 2% of all children in the first 12 months of life. By 2 years of age, most…
Mumps (i.e., epidemic parotitis) is an acute, vaccine-preventable disease of childhood that typically involves swelling of one or both parotid glands, although many different organs can be infected. Childhood mumps has become uncommon in the US since the widespread implementation…
Parainfluenza viruses (PIVs) were first identified in humans in the late 1950s. Human PIVs (PIVs) were initially described in children with croup and subsequently recognized as an important cause of acute respiratory tract infections in patients who are immunocompromised, have…
Overview of the Viruses Coronaviruses are included in the Coronaviridae family under the order Nidovirales. They are enveloped, non-segmented, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses named after their corona-like or crown-like surface projections seen on electron microscopy that correspond to large surface…
Rubella (i.e., German measles) is a benign, self-limited, vaccine-preventable viral illness. Acquired rubella is characterized by an exanthem and lymphadenopathy, although infants and children with rubella frequently are asymptomatic. Much of the morbidity attributed to rubella virus (RuV) occurs from…