Example of a case: 5 children develop a bright red rash on the face and turns vi

Question

Example of a case: 5 children develop a bright red rash on the face and turns violet after a few days and then disappears. Then maculopapular rash appears on the trunk, buttocks and extremities. It soon fades from the trunk but persists on the thights and forearms. Two children have also had a slight fever and a sore throat, but all were not terribly sick. What is the genetic material of the most likely causative agent?

It is a skin infection. Not so severe. Little upper respiratory infection but not necessary caused by the agent. Infects many so spread probably by respiratory droplets. But how a respiratory infection can lead to a skin infection?

Explanation / Answer

One might argue that since replication takes place in erythroblasts (Brown, Anderson, & Young, 1993), that it's not actually a respiratory infection either. Fluids are simply more hospitable to the virus and more transmissible.

As for the rash, perhaps it is because the P antigen receptor that erythrovirus uses to infect erythroblasts is also expressed on endothelial cells, like those in skin (and alveolar) capillaries .

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