Viruses: Life Cycle and Disease · USMLE Step 1

Rotavirus infection causes severe diarrhea by which mechanism?

  1. Enterotoxin overproduction
  2. Villous atrophy
  3. NSP4-mediated chloride loss
  4. Invasion of intestinal mucosa
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Correct answer: NSP4-mediated chloride loss

Rotavirus NSP4 acts as an enterotoxin causing chloride and water loss. It also causes villous shortening.

Difficulty: Medium Question 10 of 20

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