Calicivirus
252
Key Points
- Caliciviruses
- Characteristics
- RNA virus
- replicates in the cytoplasm of cells
- Single-stranded
- + sense
- Linear chromosome
- No envelope
- Icosahedral capsid
- RNA virus
- Medical importance
- Norovirus
- Formerly known as “Norwalk virus”
- First isolated during school outbreak in Norwalk, OH
- Transmission
- Direct contact or fecal oral
- More common in winter
- May be related to undercooked shellfish
- Presentation
- Gastroenteritis
- Most common cause of nonbacterial gastroenteritis
- Damage to small intestine microvilli causes diarrhea
- Reduced gastric motility causes vomiting
- Gastroenteritis
- Diagnosis
- Most diagnoses are clinical
- Anti-Norovirus IgM
- Treatment
- Supportive care; usually self-resolving in 1-2 days
- Formerly known as “Norwalk virus”
- Norovirus
- Characteristics