Intoduction to Smallpox

Carmel Lewis

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A brief introduction to smallpox
Name of causative agent
 The Variola virus is the main causative agent of smallpox.
Variola Virus information:
 Double stranded DNA virus
The variola virus IS NOT a Retrovirus
[An RNA virus that inserts a DNA copy of its genome into the host cell in order to replicate, HIV is another example of a retrovirus]
•      Naked or Enveloped
 Naked
•      Formation of Provirus
 Smallpox does from a provirus but not in the usual manner. Instead of the provirus forming in the nucleus, smallpox forms a provirus in the cytoplasmic material of a cell.
Epidemiology:

•      Geographic Prevalence
 The last recorded case of smallpox was in 1978 in the UK. However the last natural occurring case was one year previous in Somalia.
Smallpox no longer naturally occurs
•      Average rates of infection
 The R0 number for smallpox was between 3 and 6.
However, as the disease is no longer naturally occurring there is no current rate of infection.
•      Reservoir
 Humans are the only known reservoir of this virus. No other species is yet to host smallpox.
•      Main transmission mode
 Face to face contact with an infected person was the most common transmission mode due to transference of the disease in droplets of saliva.
Other transmission modes can include contaminated clothing and bed linen.
Pathology:

•      Major tissues/organs affected
 The Skin is the most affected organ in the body with rashes and legions appearing all over the surface of the skin.
•      Major signs/symptoms
 The major symptoms of smallpox include backache, diarrhoea, fatigue and excessive bleeding.
After a week of contracting smallpox raised pink rashes and sores appear.
•      Sequalae?
 Smallpox can leave an infected human with severe scarring of the skin and other organs. It can also cause a swelling of the brain known as encephalitis.
In the most severe cases the end result can be death.
•      Latency? 2-15 days.
Treatment:

•      Main treatment methods
 Smallpox vaccines (Cowpox)
•      Typical length of treatment
 If the vaccine is given within 4 days of the disease becoming contracted there MAY be a chance of the illness becoming less severe or been prevented.
•      Prophylactic measures
 Social isolation is the most effective to measure to prevent contraction of the disease.

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A brief introduction to smallpox
Name of causative agent
 The Variola virus is the main causative agent of smallpox.
Variola Virus information:
 Double stranded DNA virus
The variola virus IS NOT a Retrovirus
[An RNA virus that inserts a DNA copy of its genome into the host cell in order to replicate, HIV is another example of a retrovirus]
•      Naked or Enveloped
 Naked
•      Formation of Provirus
 Smallpox does from a provirus but not in the usual manner. Instead of the provirus forming in the nucleus, smallpox forms a provirus in the cytoplasmic material of a cell.
Epidemiology:

•      Geographic Prevalence
 The last recorded case of smallpox was in 1978 in the UK. However the last natural occurring case was one year previous in Somalia.
Smallpox no longer naturally occurs
•      Average rates of infection
 The R0 number for smallpox was between 3 and 6.
However, as the disease is no longer naturally occurring there is no current rate of infection.
•      Reservoir
 Humans are the only known reservoir of this virus. No other species is yet to host smallpox.
•      Main transmission mode
 Face to face contact with an infected person was the most common transmission mode due to transference of the disease in droplets of saliva.
Other transmission modes can include contaminated clothing and bed linen.
Pathology:

•      Major tissues/organs affected
 The Skin is the most affected organ in the body with rashes and legions appearing all over the surface of the skin.
•      Major signs/symptoms
 The major symptoms of smallpox include backache, diarrhoea, fatigue and excessive bleeding.
After a week of contracting smallpox raised pink rashes and sores appear.
•      Sequalae?
 Smallpox can leave an infected human with severe scarring of the skin and other organs. It can also cause a swelling of the brain known as encephalitis.
In the most severe cases the end result can be death.
•      Latency? 2-15 days.
Treatment:

•      Main treatment methods
 Smallpox vaccines (Cowpox)
•      Typical length of treatment
 If the vaccine is given within 4 days of the disease becoming contracted there MAY be a chance of the illness becoming less severe or been prevented.
•      Prophylactic measures
 Social isolation is the most effective to measure to prevent contraction of the disease.