AIIMS Bhopal NO - 2018 (Shift-1st)
Microbiology
Easy
Chikungunya species belongs to which family?
Appeared in: AIIMS Bhopal NO - 2018 (Shift-1st)
Explanation
- Chikungunya virus is a member of the genus Alphavirus, which belongs to the family Togaviridae.
- This classification is based on its genetic structure, being an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus.
- Viruses in the Togaviridae family, particularly alphaviruses, are well-known causes of febrile illness accompanied by rash and arthritis.
- Chikungunya is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and is famous for causing severe, often chronic, joint pain, a hallmark symptom that helps differentiate it from other arboviral diseases.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: The Bunyaviridae family contains different groups of RNA viruses, such as Hantavirus and Rift Valley Fever virus. Chikungunya does not share the genomic organization or protein structure of this family.
- Option B: Flaviviridae is a clinically important family that includes Dengue, Zika, and Yellow Fever viruses. While they share the same mosquito vector (Aedes) and can cause similar initial symptoms, they belong to a different viral family than Chikungunya.
- Option C: The Reoviridae family consists of non-enveloped viruses with a segmented, double-stranded RNA genome. A primary example is Rotavirus, which causes gastroenteritis and is transmitted via the fecal-oral route, unlike the mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Viral classification of Chikungunya virus as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Differentiating between Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika is a critical nursing skill in endemic areas, as all are transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and can present with fever and rash. The key differentiator for Chikungunya is the severity of the joint pain.
- Nursing care for Chikungunya is primarily supportive, focusing on pain management with analgesics (avoiding aspirin due to bleeding risk if Dengue is a possibility), hydration, and rest.
- Patient education is vital, focusing on mosquito bite prevention strategies such as using repellents, wearing protective clothing, and eliminating mosquito breeding sites around the home.
How to Approach the Question
- This is a factual recall question from microbiology.
- First, identify the core of the question: it asks for the viral family of the Chikungunya virus.
- Access your knowledge base on the classification of medically important viruses.
- Evaluate each option: Togaviridae is associated with alphaviruses like Chikungunya. Flaviviridae is associated with Dengue and Zika. Bunyaviridae and Reoviridae are associated with other distinct viral diseases.
- Based on this classification, conclude that Chikungunya belongs to the Togaviridae family.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Viral classification of Chikungunya virus.
- Stem keywords: Chikungunya, species, family
- Lead-in keywords: belongs to which
Question ID
QRumCUGNcALvv2w_rcdd1C
Reference Book
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 2024-2026
E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 pp. 1707-1709, 1710-1712
Practise the full AIIMS Bhopal NO - 2018 (Shift-1st)
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
More Virology Questions
- All of the following viruses are transmitted by respiratory route, except?
- Which of the following is the main cause of Japanese encephalitis?
- To which family does the SARS virus belong?
- Which of the following viruses is responsible for the common cold?
- What is not true about rabies
- HIV infection is spread by?
- All of the following are confirmatory tests for H2N2 except?
- Which virus is used to make the rabies vaccine?
- Dengue disease is caused by?
- Polio is the primary infection site of?
More AIIMS Bhopal NO - 2018 (Shift-1st) Questions
- What is the site of referred pain when pain is arising from the cervix?
- The division of bacterial cells and the exponential increase in their number are indicative of which phase?
- The nursing care that focuses on patient care along with the family needs, in the scope of a multidisciplinary health care team, is called?
- Which is not an indication of oxygen administration?
- What is the average incubation period of chickenpox?
- Which of the following is considered under acute neuropsychiatric complications of AIDS?
- Which of the following is the unit of measurement in bacteriology?
- Melena suggests which of the following?
- Which of the following is the hypertensive Blood Pressure of a 6-year-old child?
- What should be the size of the endotracheal tube for a newborn weighing 2,000 to 3,000 gm?