Viruses: Life Cycle and Disease · USMLE Step 1

A newborn exposed to rubella in utero develops congenital cataracts. What property of rubella enables transplacental infection?

  1. Segmented RNA genome
  2. Viremia in the mother
  3. Cytoplasmic replication
  4. Reverse transcription
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Correct answer: Viremia in the mother

Rubella causes maternal viremia, allowing the virus to cross the placenta and infect the fetus.

Difficulty: Medium Question 15 of 20

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