Morbilliviruses

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Morbilliviruses:

viruses that cause rashes - common feature of viral infection

in humans: measles

animals: ridnerpest, CDV etc.

Measles:

quite common

Rinderpest:

cattle plague

measles equivalent present in large ruminants

has been eradicated

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR):

ovine rinderpest - goats and sheep

Canine distemper virus (CDV):

old dog that has recovered - hard pad disease (digital hyperkeratosis) and nose

measles equivalent in dogs

*measles and rinderpest are close relatives - ancestral virus that split off to specialise in humans and large ruminants

Measles is restricted solely to humans - highly contagious (most contagious virus there is) - spreads though respiratory route

associated fatality with measles, 1 in 500 is unacceptable for a viral infection

Preventing measles: MMR vaccine

ideally get a second dose 4 weeks after first dose - to catch the 5% of people that do not respond to the first dose

Mumps titres weak and dont last for long - booster in latter years - boost just before going to uni

Rubella has almost vanished - de listed as an issue but remains in vaccine

Spread of morbilliviruses:

via two receptor molecules

designed to be transmitted by the respiratory route as primary route of transmission

also some shedding in urine

infect lymphoid cells by crossing respiratory epithelium - any lymph organ can be infected