Slow virus
A slow virus is a
human respiratory syncytial virus.[3]
Characteristics
Every infectious agent is different, but in general, slow viruses:[4]
- Cause an asymptomatic primary infection
- Have a long incubation period ranging from months to years
- Follow a slow but relentless progressive course leading to death
- Tend to have a genetic predisposition
- Often re-emerge from latency if the host becomes immuno-compromised
Additionally, the
prions, the identity of the agent involved.[7]
Scope
Slow viruses cause a variety of diseases, including cancer.
| Virus | Virus family | Disease | Typical latency | Transmitted by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JC virus (Human polyomavirus 2) | Polyomavirus |
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy | Years to Life§ | Unknown; possibly contaminated water[6] |
| BK virus | Polyomavirus | BK nephropathy, Bladder cancer[8] | Years to life§ | Unknown; possibly respiratory spread/urine; possibly contaminated water[6] |
Measles virus |
Paramyxovirus | Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis | 1–10 years | Respiratory droplets[9] |
| Rubella virus | Togaviridae |
Progressive rubella panencephalitis | 10–20 years | Respiratory droplets[10] |
| Rabies virus | Rhabdoviridae | Rabies | 3–12 weeks | Bite of an infected animal[11] |
| Human papillomavirus infection | Papillomaviridae | Cancers of the cervix, oropharynx, vulva, anal, penis, vagina, rectum. | Years | Sexual activity[12] |
- §JC virus & BK virus only cause disease in immunocompromised patients
Kuru- A form of Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
Was once thought to be due to a slow virus but is now known to be the result of prion disease.[citation needed]
See also
- Clinical latency
- Virus latency
References
- ^ "About HIV/AIDS | HIV Basics | HIV/AIDS". U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
- ^ "Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis". PubMed Health. National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- PMID 15690073.
- ^ Levinson W, Chin-Hong P, Joyce EA, Nussbaum J, Schwartz B, eds. (2020). "Slow Viruses & Prions.". Medical Microbiology & Immunology: A Guide to Clinical Infectious Diseases (16th ed.). McGraw Hill.
- PMID 14963121.
- ^ PMID 24119828.
- PMID 23342365.
- ^ Haridy R (2022-02-25). "The new science linking cancer, schizophrenia and MS to viral infections". New Atlas. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
- PMID 11807185.
- PMID 9103895.
- S2CID 1798889.
- ISBN 978-0-323-40037-4. Archivedfrom the original on 11 September 2017.