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Plate 86. Viral Diseases of the Nervous System. Nervous System. Central nervous system: The meninges The brain The spinal cord Peripheral nervous system: Nerves radiating out from the spinal cord. Viral Diseases in the Nervous System.
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Plate 86 Viral Diseases of the Nervous System
Nervous System • Central nervous system: • The meninges • The brain • The spinal cord • Peripheral nervous system: • Nerves radiating out from the spinal cord
Viral Diseases in the Nervous System • Viruses enter the nervous system after passing through the bloodstream and lymph system • Nerve cells (neurons) are killed during viral replication • Neurons, especially in the CNS, regenerate very slowly, if at all
Poliomyelitis (Polio) • Unenveloped RNA virus • Icosahedral shape • 3 strains of poliovirus exist • Also known as “infantile paralysis” • Poliovirus infects motor cells in the spinal cord, resulting in paralysis • 1938, FDR founds the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis
Polio Symptoms • About 95% of people infected with polio do not have any symptoms • 4-8% of people get minor symptoms • Fever • Fatigue • Headache • Stiffness in the neck and back • Pain in limbs
Polio Symptoms • Less than 1% of infected people suffer from permanent paralysis of their limbs • Of those who are paralyzed, 5-10% die from the paralysis of their respiratory muscles • Death rate increases with age
Polio Transmission • Spread through person-to-person contact and contaminated food/drink • 1952, the U.S. had 57,628 polio cases
Polio Vaccine • 1955, Dr. Jonas Salk creates the first vaccine containing inactivated polioviruses • 1955-1957, U.S. polio cases drop by 85-90% • 1961, Dr. Albert Sabin creates an oral vaccine using attenuated polioviruses • 1979, last U.S. case caused by wild poliovirus • 2004, only 1,263 polio cases worldwide
Rabies • Unenveloped RNA virus • Helical shaped • Distinct “bullet” shape • Incubation period may last for weeks or months
Rabies Symptoms • Symptoms appear at first to be similar to the flu: • Fever • Headache • Within a few days, symptoms worsen: • Insomnia • Anxiety • Confusion • Hallucinations • Hypersalivation • Hydrophobia
Rabies Symptoms • Once signs of rabies appear, the disease is almost always fatal • Less than 10 documented cases in which people survived rabies
Rabies Transmission • All mammals are susceptible to rabies infection • Primarily found in dogs, raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, and bats • Typically spread from the bite of a rabid animal (virus is found in the saliva) • Only case caused by human-to-human transmission occurred among recipients of transplanted corneas and organs
Rabies Treatment • Rabies is 100% preventable through prompt medical care • More than 55,000 people (mostly in Africa and Asia) die every year • Human rabies immune globulin and vaccine are recommended for people who have been exposed to the virus • September 28 – World Rabies Day