RubellaisanenvelopedRNAvirusbelongingtothetogaviruses.Ithasasphericalshapemeasuringabout50-70nmindiameter.Thereappearstobeonlyoneantigenictype,andnocross-reactivitywithalphavirusesorothermembersofthetogavirusgrouphasbeenfound.Rubellavirusesarepathogensoftherespiratorytractandtransmittedmainlybydropletinfection.Rubellaisaworldwidecommoncontagiousdiseasewithmildconstitutionalsymptomsandageneralizedrush.Inchildhood,itisaninconsequentialillness,butwhenitoccursduringpregnancy,thereisasignificantriskofseveredamagetothefetus.Theriskofcongenitalrubelladependsprimarilyonthemonthofpregnancyinwhichinfectionisacquired:overall,app.16%ofinfantshavemajordefectsatbirthfollowingmaternalrubellainthefirst3monthsofpregnancy.Congenitalrubellainfectionmayleadtoasyndromewithsingleormultipleorganinvolvements,knownasembryopathiarubeolosa.Insomecasesinfectionisinapparentbutresultsinconsequentialdamagesaseyedefects,deafness,growthretardation,andothers.Naturallyacquiredimmunityusuallyislong-lasting,butreinfectionispossIBLeduetodecreasinglevelsofcirculatingantibodies.Forimmunizationavaccinecontaininglivevirusisused.Infectionmaybeidentifiedby

• DetectionofvirusbyPCR(prenatal)
• Hemagglutinationinhibition(HAI),Haemolysis-in-geltest(HiG)
• DetectionofantibodiesbyEIA,ELISA.Measurementofantibodiesintheserumisimportantforthedeterminationoftheimmunestatus.Evenapreviousinfectionthoughratherovertmaynotyieldalong-lastingimmunity,butmayresultinanantibodytitertoolowtopreventreinfection.Especiallythescreeningofadolescentsandyoungwomenshouldbeamandatoryroutineinprenatalcare.