CHAPTER 37 Particles containing RNA Segments from different
REOVIRUSES, ROTAVIRUSES, & CALCIVIRUSES
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REOVIRUSES & ROTAVIRUSES
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REOVIRUSES
- medium-sized; triple-layered structure
o Double-Shelled Particle = complete
infectious form
- Stable to heat at 50C, 3-9 pH, & Lipid Solvents
(Ether, Chloroform)
- Inactivated by 95% Ethanol, Phenol, & Chlorine
Virion Icosahedral, 60-80 nm, Double-Capsid Shell
Composition RNA (15%), CHON (85%)
Genome dsRNA, Linear, Segmented (10-12), 16-27
kbp
Proteins 9 Structural CHONs, Core contains several
Enzymes
Envelope None (Transient Pseudoenvelope present
during Particle Morphogenesis)
Replication Cytoplasm; Virions not completely Uncoated
Outstanding Genetic Reassortment occurs readily
Characteristics Major Cause of Infantile Diarrhea
Good Models for Molecular Studies of Viral
Pathogenesis
Family Reoviridae
- 15 genera (4 are infectious to Humans &
Animals):
o Orthoreovirus
o Rotavirus = Infantile Gastroenteritis
o Coltivirus
o Orbivirus
- Spinareovirinae = large spikes at 12 Vertices
(Orthoreovirus)
- Sedoreovirinae = smooth, lacks large surface
projections (Rotavirus)
Replication
- particles attach to Specific Receptors on Cell
surfaces via Viral Hemagglutinin (1 CHON) !
Penetration
- Uncoating in the Lysosomes @ Cytoplasm (only
Outer Shell is removed) ! RNA Transcriptase
activation ! mRNA Transcription
o Short terminal sequences at both ends of
RNA Segments ! recognition signals for
Viral Transcriptase
o Contains all enzymes for Transcribing,
Capping, & Extruding mRNAs from Core !
mRNA Translation
o Viral Replicase ! (-)-Sense Strand
synthesis ! dsRNA Genome Segments
- Genome Reassortment occurs in cells co-infected
with different virus of the same subgroup ! Virus
parental strains.
- Viral Polypeptide Self-Assembly ! Inner & Outer
Capsid Shells
- Inclusion Bodies = formed in the Cytoplasm
o Closely associated with Tubular Structures
(Microtubules & Intermediate Filaments
- Single-Shelled Particle Budding !
Pseudoenvelopes removed & Outer Capsids are
added (Glycosylated)
- Cell Lysis ! Progeny Virion release
Classification & Antigenic Properties
- 3 distinct but related types are demonstrable by
Neutralization & Hemagglutination-Inhibition
Tests
- Hemagglutinin for Human O or Bovine
Erythrocytes
Epidemiology
- inapparent infxns r/t Serum Antibodies by Early
Adulthood.
- Recovered more readily from Feces than Nose/
Throat
Pathogenesis
- Pathogenic Properties determined by CHON
Species found on the Outer Capsid of the Virion.
ROTAVIRUSES
- major cause of Diarrheal Illness in Human Infants
& Young Animals.
o Human Infantile Diarrhea
o Nebraska Calf Diarrhea
o Epizootic Diarhea of Infant Mice
o SA11 Virus of Monkeys
Classification
- 5 Species (A-E) + 2 Tentative Species (F & G)
based on Antigenic Epitopes on the Internal
Structure CHON VP6.
o Group A, B, & C = infect Humans (Group A
most frequent)
o Detected via Immunofluorescence, ELISA,
& Immune Electron Microscopy (IEM)
- Outer Caspid CHON VP4 & (predominantly) VP7 =
epitopes in neutralizing activity.
Animal Susceptibility
- isolates recovered from newborn animals with
diarrhea.
- Newborns = subclinical infection (reflects
Maternal Antibodies)
- Weanling Animals = overt disease
Propagation in Cell Culture
- fastidious agents to culture
- Group A Human Rotaviruses = cultivated by
penetrating with Trypsin & if low levels are
included in the Tissue Culture Medium ! cleaves
outer capsid CHON ! Uncoating
Pathogenesis
- infects cells in the S. Intestine Villi (Gastric &
Colonic Mucosa spared)
o sloughs into the Intestinal Lumen &
release large quantities of Virus ! Stool
(1012 particles/g)
o Diarrhea r/t impaired Na+ & Glucose
Absorption (Villi replaced by non-
absorbing Immature Crypt Cells)
- multiply in Enterocyte Cytoplasm & damage
transport mechanisms
- NSP4 = viral enterotoxin inducing secretion via
Signal Transduction
- Viral Excretion = 2-12 days
- Normal Function restoration = 3-8 weeks
Clinical Findings
- Incubation Period = 1-3 Days
- Watery Diarrhea, Fever, Abdominal Pain, Vomiting
! Dehydration
o Mild = 3-8 days ! complete recovery
o Viral Excretion (Stool) = 50 days after
onset of Diarrhea
- Prolonged disease in children with
Immunodeficiencies
- Adults = Seroconversion, ASx; r/t contact with
Pediatric Patients
- EIA more sensitive than IEM; PCR for Genotyping;
ELISA
Epidemiology
- predominate during Winter Season.
- Sx Infxns = Children between 6 months & 2 years
c/o Fecal-Oral
- ASx Infxns = < 6 months (c/o Maternal Antibodies)
- 3 y.o. = 90% have Serum Antibodies
- young children can suffer up to 5 reinfections by
2 y.o.
- IgA/INF = important in protection against infxn.
Treatment & Control
- SUPPORTIVE = correct H2O & Electrolyte Loss that
may lead to Dehydration, Acidosis, Shock, &
Death
o Fluid Replacement & Electrolyte Balance
restoration
- Wastewater Tx & Sanitation
- Oral Live Attenuated Rhesus-Based Rotavirus
Vaccine
o Withdrawn due to Intissisception (S/E)
- Oral Live Attenuated Pentavalent Human-Bovine
Reassortant Rotavirus Vaccine
- Oral Live Attenuated Monovalent Human Rotavirus
Vaccine
ORBIVIRUSES
- commonly infect Insects & transmitted to
Vertebrates.
- 100 serotypes; none causes serious Human
Illnesses but may cause mild fever.
- Blue-Tongue Virus (Sheep), African Horse Sickness
Virus
Outstanding Characteristics
- 10 segments of dsRNA (18 kbp)
- sensitive to low pH
COLTIVIRUSES
- 12 segments of dsRNA (29 kbp)
- Colorado Rick Fever Virus
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CALCIVIRUSES
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Family Calciviridiae
- Divided into 5 Genera:
o Novovirus = Norwalk Viruses
o Sapovirus = Sapporo-Like Viruses
o Nebovirus = Bovine Enteric Viruses
o Lagovirus = Rabid Hemorrhagic Disease
Virus
o Vesivirus = Vesicular Exanthem Virus
- Genogroups GI, GII, & GIV = associated with
Human Gastroenteritis
- GII.4 = caused most Viral Gastroenteritis
outbreaks.
- Cellular Receptors are Histo-Blood Group Antigens
expressed on the Mucosal Epithelia of the
Digestive Tract.
- Fucosyltransferase 2 Gene = controls Secretor
Status
o Secretor (-) = resistance to Norwalk Virus
Clinical Findings & Laboratory Diagnosis
- Novoviruses (Norwalk Viruses) = Epidemic Viral
Gastroenteritis
o Absence of Bacterial Pathogens
o Gastroenteritis with Rapid Onset &
Recovery & Relatively Mild Systemic Signs
o Epidemiologic Pattern of Highly
Communicable Disease spreading rapidly
without predilection
o IP = 24-48 hrs; rapid onset for 12-60 hrs
(Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting, Low-Grade
Fever, Abdominal Cramps, Headache,
Malaise)
o Cx = Dehydration
o Viral Shedding = 1 month
- Reverse Transcriptase PCR
- Electron Microscopy (Stool Samples), IEM, ELISA
(>4x increase in IgG Antibody Titer)
Virion Icosahedral, 27-40 nm, Cup-Like
Depressions on Capsid
Genome ssRNA, Linear, (+)-Sense, Non-
Segmented, 7.4-8.3 kb, Contains
Genome-Linked CHON (VPg)
Proteins Polypeptides cleaved from a
precursor PolyCHON
Capsid composed of a single CHON
Envelope None
Replication Cytoplasm
Cause of Non-Bacterial Epidemic
Gastroenteritis
Human Viruses are Non-Cultivable
Epidemiology & Immunity
- Waterborne, Foodborne, & Shellfish-Associated
Gastroenteritis
- Seasonal Peak during cooler months
- Person-to-Person Transmission via Fomites/
Aerosolization
- Low infectious dose (10 Virus Particles)
- Survives 10 ppm Chlorine & Heating 60C
- FECAL-ORAL SPREAD
- Most children have developed Novovirus
Antibodies by 4 y.o.

Treatment & Control

- Symptomatic Treatment, Effective Hand Washing,
Proper Disposal of Stools, Containment &
Disinfection of Soiled Areas
- Careful Food Processing & Education in Food
Handling
- Purification of Drinking Water & Swimming Pool
- NO VACCINE.

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ASTROVIRUSES
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- 28-30 nm; Star-Like Morphology (EM); (+) Sense,

ssRNA (6.4-7.4 kb)
- 2 Genera; Mamastrovirus Genus = Human Virus,
8 Serotypes
- Diarrheal Illness shed in extraordinarily large
quantities in Feces.
o Fecal-Oral Route via Contaminated Food/
Water, Person-to-Person Contact,
Contaminated Surfaces
- Pathogens for Infants & Children, Elderly
Institutionalized Patients, & Immunocompromised
Persons