Orthopoxvirus inclusion bodies explained

Orthopoxvirus inclusion bodies are aggregates of stainable protein produced by poxvirus virions in the cell nuclei and/or cytoplasm of epithelial cells in humans. They are important as sites of viral replication.^{[1] [2]}

Morphology

Morphologically there are two types of Orthopoxvirus inclusion bodies, Type-A inclusion bodies and Guarnieri bodies. Type-A inclusion bodies are found only in certain poxviruses like cowpox.^[3] The Guarnieri bodies are found in all poxvirus infections and their presence is diagnostic.^[4] The diagnosis of an orthopoxvirus infection can also be made rapidly by electron microscopic examination of pustular fluid or scabs. However, all orthopoxviruses exhibit identical brick-shaped virions by electron microscopy.

Guarnieri bodies are named for Giuseppe Guarnieri, (1856-1918) an Italian physician who first described them.^[5]

Notes and References

1. May 2012 . Formation of orthopoxvirus cytoplasmic A-type inclusion bodies and embedding of virions are dynamic processes requiring microtubules . J Virol . 86 . 10. 5905–14 . 10.1128/JVI.06997-11 . 22438543 . 3347259 . Howard . AR . Moss . B.
2. Fenner, F., Witte, K.R., and Dumbell, K.R. The Orthopoxviruses. Academic Press, San Diego, 1989.
3. Leite . JA . da Fonseca . FG . de Souza Trindade . G . Abrahão . JS . Arantes . RM . de Almeida-Leite . CM . Santos . JR . Guedes . MI . Ribeiro . BM . Bonjardim . CA . Ferreira . PC . Kroon . EG . Apr 2011 . A-type inclusion bodies: a factor influencing cowpox virus lesion pathogenesis . Arch Virol . 156 . 4. 617–28 . 10.1007/s00705-010-0900-0. 21212997 . 33135261 .
4. Riedel S . Smallpox and biological warfare: a disease revisited . Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) . 18 . 1 . 13–20 . January 2005 . 16200143 . 1200695 . 10.1080/08998280.2005.11928026.
5. Book: Forbis, Pat . Bartolucci, Susan L. . Stedman, Thomas Lathrop . Stedman's medical eponyms . Lippincott Williams & Wilkins . Hagerstwon, MD . 2005 . 294 . 0-7817-5443-7 .