Coronaviridae
Chapter 62 Coronaviridae The family Coronaviridae (Latin corona meaning crown) belongs to the Order Nidovirales, which also includes the family Arteriviridae. Coronaviruses are large, pleomorphic, enveloped viruses. Virions contain a…
Picornaviridae
Chapter 52 Picornaviridae Picornaviruses get their name from the prefix ‘pico’ meaning very small and the abbreviation for ribonucleic acid. In keeping with their name these viruses are only 22–30 nm…
Circoviridae
Chapter 46 Circoviridae This family is relatively new and comprises viruses of vertebrates. Circoviruses are non-enveloped, icosahedral in structure and generally range from 20–26 nm in diameter. A distinctive capsid surface…
Prions (proteinaceous infectious agents)
Chapter 67 Prions (proteinaceous infectious agents) Several neurodegenerative diseases of animals and man belong to a group known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), which are viewed as part of a…
Bornaviridae
Chapter 66 Bornaviridae The family Bornaviridae belongs to the order Mononegavirales. There is a single genus, Bornavirus, with a single member species, Borna disease virus (BDV). However, proventicular dilatation disease…
Orthomyxoviridae
Chapter 60 Orthomyxoviridae The name orthomyxovirus is derived from two Greek words, orthos meaning correct or proper and myxa meaning mucus. The family includes the viruses responsible for influenza. Influenza…
Arteriviridae
Chapter 58 Arteriviridae Arteriviruses were formerly classified as members of Togaviridae on the basis of morphological similarities. However, their genome organization and replication strategy is similar to members of Coronaviridae….
Birnaviridae
Chapter 56 Birnaviridae Birnaviruses derive their name from the two segments of linear, double-stranded RNA that make up their genome. The virions are non-enveloped, about 65 nm in diameter with icosahedral…
Astroviridae
Chapter 54 Astroviridae The name of the family is derived from the Greek word astron meaning star and referring to the star-like surface structure of member virions. Astroviruses are non-enveloped…
Adenoviridae
Chapter 48 Adenoviridae Adenoviruses (from the Greek word adenos meaning gland) were first isolated from explant cultures of human adenoids. They are non-enveloped, icosahedral viruses, 70–90 nm in diameter, containing a…
