Abnormal Development - Viral Infection

Notice - Mark Hill

Currently this page is only a template and will be updated (this notice removed when completed).

Introduction

Below is a list of some known maternal, then fetal and postnatal infections that impact upon development. Only a very brief overview is given for each virus for more specific details see the listed internal and external links.

Viruses cannot reproduce by themselves and therefore infect cells to use the cell machinery to produce more virus. Different viruses have genetic material as single- or double-stranded RNA or DNA. The infectious virus particle is called a "virion" and is the genetic material packed in a protein shell. Viruses come in many genetic sizes, as little as 4 proteins up to 200 proteins.

Viral infections can range in their effects from no discernable impact through to severe impacts on development. Furthermore this may occur either directly by the infection or indirectly by the associated maternal fever and other side-effects of the infection. (More? Maternal Hyperthermia)

Rubella virus "German Measles" infection during pregnancy is one of the most serious causing congenital rubella syndrome with serious malformations of the developing fetus. (More? Rubella)

Viral infections have also recently been in the news with the 2009 novel influenza A (H1N1) "Swine Flu" pandemic. (More? Swine Influenza Virus)

Some early postnatal viral infections can also impact upon development and have been the target for worldwide immunization and eradication. (More? Polio)

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) leads to AIDS and according to United Nations 2005 data about 38.6 million people had HIV. Of the 17.3 million women infected with HIV, 3.28 million gave birth each year (mostly in sub-Saharan Africa), leading to 700,000 new infections of HIV in children each year. (More? Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

Note also that many cancers can be caused by viruses (papilloma viruses, hepatitis B and C viruses, Epstein-Barr virus and human T-cell lymphotropic virus). Virus-induced cancers account for about 20% of worldwide cancer incidence.

In a few developing countries, and mainly in Africa, at least 3 viruses induce a hemorrhagic fever: Ebola hemorrhagic fever, Marburg virus disease, and Lassa fever.

Some Recent Findings

• Transplacental transmission of Human Papillomavirus. "In conclusion the study suggests placental infection in 23.3% of the cases studied and transplacental transmission in 12.2%. It is suggested that in future HPV DNA be researched in the normal endometrium of women of reproductive age. The possible consequence of fetal exposure to HPV should be observed."

References

Search Pubmed

Search Pubmed: embryo viral Infection | fetal viral Infection

Glossary Links

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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, May 2) Embryology Abnormal Development - Viral Infection. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Abnormal_Development_-_Viral_Infection

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© Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G