PathologyLesson 1 of 1 in the course Urogenital System Infections

Reproductive-System Viruses: HSV, HPV, and Surveillance

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Genital herpes is a common viral infection that can cause painful lesions, recur after periods without symptoms, and be transmitted even when no lesions are visible. This lesson explains how herpes simplex viruses cause infection, how latency contributes to recurrence, and why infection during pregnancy can threaten a newborn.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is an enveloped virus with a double-stranded DNA genome. HSV occurs as two types: HSV-1, commonly associated with oral cold sores, and HSV-2, commonly associated with genital herpes. These are common patterns, not strict boundaries: either type can infect the mouth, genitals, or other body sites. Oral-genital contact can transmit HSV between these locations.

All flashcards

HSV latency
Persistence of HSV in sensory nerve ganglia, where it can later reactivate.
Asymptomatic HSV shedding
Release of HSV that can allow transmission even when visible lesions are absent.
HPV oncogenic types
HPV types that can contribute to cancer, including cervical cancer.
HPV wart treatment
Treatments can remove or reduce genital warts without necessarily eliminating HPV.
Neonatal herpes
HSV infection in a newborn, most often acquired during childbirth.

Quiz questions

  1. How can HPV proteins E6 and E7 promote cancer development?Answer: They inactivate cellular tumor-suppressor proteins.
  2. Which approach is a primary method for detecting HPV?Answer: Molecular testing for viral genetic material
  3. What cellular finding is associated with HPV infection on a Pap smear?Answer: A koilocyte with a perinuclear halo
  4. Which infection is not routinely notifiable in the United States in the same way as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis?Answer: Genital herpes
  5. What is the primary purpose of HPV vaccination?Answer: To prevent infection from selected HPV types

Based on Microbiology by Nina Parker, Mark Schneegurt, Anh-Hue Thi Tu, Philip Lister, Brian M. Forster (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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