Jornal de doenças infecciosas e medicina

Parainfluenza: A Respiratory System Illness

Abstract

Aakansha Tiwari, Seema Agarwal, Garima Pandey

Parainfluenza is a highly contagious disease of animals which affects mainly the respiratory system of the body. The disease is caused by the Parainfluenza viruses which are the enveloped viruses belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family under order Mononegavirales. These viruses affect the respiratory system of bovine, canine and murine species. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with infected animals or by aerosols produced through exhalation, coughing or sneezing. After inhalation, the virus invades the respiratory epithelium and affects the alveolar macrophage which increases susceptibility to secondary infection. The infection is transmitted rapidly among stressed animal. It is manifested by an increase in body temperature, lacrimation, and serous discharge from the nasal opening, coughing, depression, and dyspnoea. Diagnosis of this viral infection can be done on the basis of various serological assays, immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR methods. Treatment against it is mainly symptomatic and directed primarily towards combating the secondary bacterial infections. Vaccination is the best prevention strategy against the disease occurrence and various combined vaccines are available in the market.