Reoviridae

Questions

1. Describe the general properties, also name the subtypes?

2. Describe the subtypes in general, especially the condition caused by rotaviruses?

Reoviruses are: 50-80nm, icosahedral, non-enveloped, ds, segmented genome. There are three main groups. Rotavirus, Reovirus, Orbivirus. The first one is an important cause of infantile diarrhoea, has a double wheel capsid structure, five groups of which A is most common, and has faceal oral and respiratory route of spread. Reoviruses are usually found in the nasopharynx and intestinal tract of man, but not associated with any disease. Orbiviruses are important in veterinary illnesses such as: blue tongue sheep, and Colorado tick fever.

Rotaviruses cause rotaviral gastroenteritis, caused by group A. Have a faecal oral route of spread, incubation period of 1-3 days, duration of 4-6days, fever, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Diagnosis is done by ELISA, EM, and latex agglutination.

Category: Microbiology Notes