Serpentovirinae | |
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Virus classification ![]() | |
(unranked): | Virus |
Realm: | Riboviria |
Kingdom: | Orthornavirae |
Phylum: | Pisuviricota |
Class: | Pisoniviricetes |
Order: | Nidovirales |
Family: | Tobaniviridae |
Subfamily: | Serpentovirinae |
Genera | |
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Serpentovirinae, commonly known as serptentoviruses, is a virus subfamily within the family Tobaniviridae which is within the order Nidovirales. [1] [2] The virions of Serpentovirinae have a viral envelope and a positive-sense single-strand RNA genome. They infect vertebrates, mostly Ophidians , but sequencing has identified serpentovirinae infections in other reptiles including turtles, chameleons, and lizards. [3] [4] [5] [6] Although clinical significance varies across the clade, several pathogenic infections by this subfamily have been observed and studied, primarily in snakes with some observations in other groups. [7] [8] [9] [10] This subfamily comprises seven genera and 12 subgenera. [1] [11]
Serpentoviruses exhibit fomite transmission and transmission via the air. Fomite transmission occurs most frequently via stool or mucus that is carrying the virus. One study showed that there is no vertical transmission; the eggs of a mating pair of infected pythons were positive for serpentovirinae RNA, but the hatchlings were RNA negative when tested. [12] [10] [8]
The symptoms of serpentovirus infections in reptiles are similar to some coronavirus symptoms in mammals (the coronaviridae family also belongs to the order Nidovirales). [2] [6] [12] Symptoms include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, increased oral mucus discharge, oral reddening, anorexia and eventually weight loss, and death in untreated cases. Serpentoviral infections have also been found to cause lesions in the upper respiratory tract, upper gastrointestinal tract, and even the lungs. These lesions are usually inflamed and pneumonic, and can cause greater complications and morbidity when the animal is also infected with bacterial bronchopneumonia. [2] [7] It has also been observed that older snakes are more likely to be infected and also more likely to exhibit clinically significant symptoms. [10]
Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction can be used to detect viral RNA and is the most common form of diagnosis. Oral/nasal swabs are used to obtain samples both pre- and post-mortem. It is also possible to detect virions and viral RNA within the stool of infected pythons due to the python swallowing infected mucus. Additionally, nematode species within the GI tract are able to bioaccumulate the virion. However, the nematodes themselves are not infected. Specific treatments and therapeutics have not yet been discovered or prescribed, but research is ongoing to determine best practices and potential therapeutics. [2] [4] [9] [12]
There have been observations that serpentovirus species diversity varies between animal populations and also geographic ranges. [13] Phylogenetic analysis has shown that the different genera and species of serpentovirinae infect specific groups of snakes, and that some species exclusively infect non-serpent reptiles. However, it is currently understood that pythonidae are the most susceptible to serpentovirus infection generally, with colubridae and boidae exhibiting the highest non-python-hosted serpentovirus species diversity. Additionally, sequencing of viral RNA from infected animals has shown the ability of serpentoviruses to become recombinant during replication and transmission, leading to rapid diversification. [10] [5]
The subfamily Serpentovirinae contains the following seven identified genera and 12 identified subgenera: [1] [11]
Paramyxoviridae is a family of negative-strand RNA viruses in the order Mononegavirales. Vertebrates serve as natural hosts. Diseases associated with this family include measles, mumps, and respiratory tract infections. The family has four subfamilies, 17 genera, three of which are unassigned to a subfamily, and 78 species.
Bornaviridae is a family of negative-strand RNA viruses in the order Mononegavirales. Horses, sheep, cattle, rodents, birds, reptiles, and humans serve as natural hosts. Diseases associated with bornaviruses include Borna disease, a fatal neurologic disease of mammals restricted to central Europe; and proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) in birds. Bornaviruses may cause encephalitis in mammals like horses or sheep. The family includes 11 species assigned to three genera.
The measles virus (MV), with scientific name Morbillivirus hominis, is a single-stranded, negative-sense, enveloped, non-segmented RNA virus of the genus Morbillivirus within the family Paramyxoviridae. It is the cause of measles. Humans are the natural hosts of the virus; no animal reservoirs are known to exist.
Bunyavirales is an order of segmented negative-strand RNA viruses with mainly tripartite genomes. Member viruses infect arthropods, plants, protozoans, and vertebrates. It is the only order in the class Ellioviricetes. The name Bunyavirales derives from Bunyamwera, where the original type species Bunyamwera orthobunyavirus was first discovered. Ellioviricetes is named in honor of late virologist Richard M. Elliott for his early work on bunyaviruses.
An arenavirus is a bi- or trisegmented ambisense RNA virus that is a member of the family Arenaviridae. These viruses infect rodents and occasionally humans. A class of novel, highly divergent arenaviruses, properly known as reptarenaviruses, have also been discovered which infect snakes to produce inclusion body disease, mostly in boa constrictors. At least eight arenaviruses are known to cause human disease. The diseases derived from arenaviruses range in severity. Aseptic meningitis, a severe human disease that causes inflammation covering the brain and spinal cord, can arise from the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Hemorrhagic fever syndromes, including Lassa fever, are derived from infections such as Guanarito virus, Junin virus, Lassa virus, Lujo virus, Machupo virus, Sabia virus, or Whitewater Arroyo virus. Because of the epidemiological association with rodents, some arenaviruses and bunyaviruses are designated as roboviruses.
Coronaviridae is a family of enveloped, positive-strand RNA viruses which infect amphibians, birds, and mammals. Commonly referred to as coronaviruses in the English language, the family coronaviridae includes the subfamilies Letovirinae and Orthocoronavirinae; the latter also known as coronavirinae.
Nidovirales is an order of enveloped, positive-strand RNA viruses which infect vertebrates and invertebrates. Host organisms include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, arthropods, molluscs, and helminths. The order includes the families Coronaviridae, Arteriviridae, Roniviridae,Tobaniviridae, and Mesoniviridae.
Herpesviridae is a large family of DNA viruses that cause infections and certain diseases in animals, including humans. The members of this family are also known as herpesviruses. The family name is derived from the Greek word ἕρπειν, referring to spreading cutaneous lesions, usually involving blisters, seen in flares of herpes simplex 1, herpes simplex 2 and herpes zoster (shingles). In 1971, the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) established Herpesvirus as a genus with 23 viruses among four groups. As of 2020, 115 species are recognized, all but one of which are in one of the three subfamilies. Herpesviruses can cause both latent and lytic infections.
Astroviruses (Astroviridae) are a type of virus that was first discovered in 1975 using electron microscopes following an outbreak of diarrhea in humans. In addition to humans, astroviruses have now been isolated from numerous mammalian animal species and from avian species such as ducks, chickens, and turkey poults. Astroviruses are 28–35 nm diameter, icosahedral viruses that have a characteristic five- or six-pointed star-like surface structure when viewed by electron microscopy. Along with the Picornaviridae and the Caliciviridae, the Astroviridae comprise a third family of nonenveloped viruses whose genome is composed of plus-sense, single-stranded RNA. Astrovirus has a non-segmented, single stranded, positive sense RNA genome within a non-enveloped icosahedral capsid. Human astroviruses have been shown in numerous studies to be an important cause of gastroenteritis in young children worldwide. In animals, Astroviruses also cause infection of the gastrointestinal tract but may also result in encephalitis, hepatitis (avian) and nephritis (avian).
The genetic structure of H5N1, a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, is characterized by a segmented RNA genome consisting of eight gene segments that encode for various viral proteins essential for replication, host adaptation, and immune evasion.
Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) is a species of DNA poxvirus that causes the human skin infection molluscum contagiosum. Molluscum contagiosum affects about 200,000 people a year, about 1% of all diagnosed skin diseases. Diagnosis is based on the size and shape of the skin lesions and can be confirmed with a biopsy, as the virus cannot be routinely cultured. Molluscum contagiosum virus is the only species in the genus Molluscipoxvirus. MCV is a member of the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae of family Poxviridae. Other commonly known viruses that reside in the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae are variola virus and monkeypox virus.
Andes orthohantavirus (ANDV), a species of Orthohantavirus, is a major causative agent of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in South America. It is named for the Andes mountains of Chile and Argentina, where it was first discovered. Originating in the reservoir of rodents, Andes orthohantavirus is easily transmitted to humans who come into contact with infected rodents or their fecal droppings. However, infected rodents do not appear ill, so there is no readily apparent indicator to determine whether the rodent is infected or not. Additionally, Andes orthohantavirus, specifically, is the only hantavirus that can be spread by human to human contact via bodily fluids or long-term contact from one infected individual to a healthy person.
Equine viral arteritis (EVA) is a disease of horses caused by a virus of the species Alphaarterivirus equid, an RNA virus. It is the only species in the genus Alphaarterivirus, and that is the only genus in the Equarterivirinae subfamily. The virus which causes EVA was first isolated in 1953, but the disease has afflicted equine animals worldwide for centuries. It has been more common in some breeds of horses in the United States, but there is no breed "immunity". In the UK, it is a notifiable disease. There is no known human hazard.
A viral disease occurs when an organism's body is invaded by pathogenic viruses, and infectious virus particles (virions) attach to and enter susceptible cells.
The monkeypox virus is a species of double-stranded DNA virus that causes mpox disease in humans and other mammals. It is a zoonotic virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus, making it closely related to the variola, cowpox, and vaccinia viruses. MPV is oval, with a lipoprotein outer membrane. The genome is approximately 190 kb. Smallpox and monkeypox viruses are both orthopoxviruses, and the smallpox vaccine is effective against mpox if given within 3–5 years before the disease is contracted. Symptoms of mpox in humans include a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. The virus is transmissible between animals and humans by direct contact to the lesions or bodily fluids. The virus was given the name monkeypox virus after being isolated from monkeys, but most of the carriers of this virus are smaller mammals.
Sunviridae is a family of negative-strand RNA viruses in the order Mononegavirales. Snakes serve as natural hosts. The family includes the single genus Sunshinevirus which includes the single species Reptile sunshinevirus 1.The family was formed to accommodate the Sunshine Coast virus (SunCV), previously referred to as "Sunshine virus", a novel virus discovered in Australian pythons. The name derives from the geographic origin of the first isolate on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia.
Feline foamy virus or Feline syncytial virus is a retrovirus and belongs to the family Retroviridae and the subfamily Spumaretrovirinae. It shares the genus Felispumavirus with only Puma feline foamy virus. There has been controversy on whether FeFV is nonpathogenic as the virus is generally asymptomatic in affected cats and does not cause disease. However, some changes in kidney and lung tissue have been observed over time in cats affected with FeFV, which may or may not be directly affiliated. This virus is fairly common and infection rates gradually increase with a cat's age. Study results from antibody examinations and PCR analysis have shown that over 70% of felines over 9 years old were seropositive for Feline foamy virus. Viral infections are similar between male and female domesticated cats whereas in the wild, more feral females cats are affected with FeFV.
Alphamononivirus is a genus of enveloped, positive-strand RNA viruses in the order Nidovirales which infect planarian flatworms. Member virus planarian secretory cell nidovirus (PSCNV) has the largest known nonsegmented RNA genome of 41.1kb of any RNA virus. The genus is monotypic. It contains the subgenus Dumedivirus, which contains only one species, Planidovirus 1. Alphamononivirus is also the only member of the subfamily Mononivirinae, which in turn is the only member of family Mononiviridae, which likewise is the only member of the Monidovirineae suborder.
Tobaniviridae is a family of enveloped, positive-strand RNA viruses in the order Nidovirales which infect vertebrates. The most common host organisms include mammals, fish, and snakes, with some infections observed in other reptiles. The genome size of tobaniviruses ranges from 20 to 32 kilobases. The family is the only member of the suborder Tornidovirineae.
Carrot virus Y (CarVY) is a (+)ss-RNA virus that affects crops of the carrot family (Apiaceae), such as carrots, anise, chervil, coriander, cumin, dill and parsnip. Carrots are the only known crop to be infected in the field. Infection by the virus leads to deformed roots and discolored or mottled leaves. The virus is spread through insect vectors, and is currently only found in Australia.