|
Type Species |
(VACV) |
Virions are brick-shaped, about 200 200 250 nm. Infectivity is ether-resistant. Extensive serologic cross-reactivity exists between the viruses. Virus-infected cells synthesize a hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein that contributes to the modification of cell membranes and enables hemadsorption and hemagglutination of certain avian erythrocytes and alteration of the envelope of extracellular enveloped viruses. Neutralization sites on enveloped viruses are distinct from those on IMVs. The host range is broad in laboratory animals and in tissue culture; in nature it may be relatively narrow. Most infections are generalized and disseminated. DNA is 170-250 kbp, G+C content is about 36%. The DNAs cross-hybridize extensively between members of the genus and sometimes with DNA of members of other genera. By comparison to the American species, DNA restriction maps suggest independent evolution of the Eurasian-African species.
List of Species Demarcation Criteria in the Genus
The criteria are provisional and reflect the fact that species definitions can be rather arbitrary and reflective of attempts to define natural transmission lineages. Most orthopoxviruses contain an hemagglutinin (HA) and many contain a A-type inclusion protein, polymorphisms within these genes distinguishes species. Species can be classified by pock morphologies and by ceiling temperature for growth on the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated chicken eggs. Ecological niche and host range are useful in some cases, but in others (Rabbitpox virus and Buffalopox virus) can be misleading. Restriction enzyme polymorphisms (RFLPs) of the terminal regions of viral DNA outside of the core of common genes also aids the classification process. A more detailed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) polymorphism analysis throughout the entire genome shows all orthopoxvirues to be unique.
Official virus species names are in italics. Tentative virus species names, alternative names ( ), strains or serotypes are not italicized. Virus names, host names { }, genome sequence accession numbers [ ], and assigned abbreviations ( ) are:
|
Camelpox virus |
[S51129] |
(CMLV) |
|
{camel} |
||
|
Cowpox virus |
[M19531] |
(CPXV) |
|
{rodents, felines, bovines, human} |
||
|
Ectromelia virus |
[M83102] |
(ECTV) |
|
(Mousepox virus) |
||
|
{reservoir unknown} |
||
|
Monkeypox virus |
[K02025] |
(MPXV) |
|
{rodents, primates, human} |
||
|
Raccoonpox virus |
[U08228, M94169] |
(RCNV) |
|
{North America raccoon} |
||
|
Taterapox virus |
[U32629] |
(GBLV) |
|
{African gerbil} |
||
|
Vaccinia virus |
[M35027, U94848] |
(VACV) |
|
{no natural reservoir} |
||
|
Buffalopox virus |
[U87233] |
(BPXV) |
|
{buffalo, cattle, human} |
||
|
Rabbitpox virus |
[M60387] |
(RPXV) |
|
{colonized rabbit, no natural reservoir} |
||
|
Variola virus |
[L22579] |
(VARV) |
|
{human; eradicated from nature} |
||
|
Volepox virus |
(VPXV) | |
|
{California pinon mouse and voles} |
Tentative Species in the Genus
|
Skunkpox virus |
(SKPV) |
|
{North American striped skunk} |
|
|
Uasin Gishu disease virus |
(UGDV) |
|
{Central African horses} |
|
|