Parasitology, Microbiology and Infection Control

Viral Pathogenesis

Viral pathogenesis is the process by which viruses produce disease in the host. The factors that determine the viral transmission, multiplication, and development of disease in the host involve complex and dynamic interactions between the virus and the susceptible host. Viruses cause disease when they breach the host's primary physical and natural protective barriers. An important aspect of viral pathogenesis is viral epidemiology. Infection in a population can be endemic, epidemic, or pandemic. Infection can be direct or indirect. Several quantitative measures are expressed as infectivity, disease index, virulence, incidence, and prevalence in terms of epidemiology.