Genus Leporipoxvirus

Type Species	Myxoma virus	(MYXV)

Distinguishing Features

Virions are brick-shaped, about 300 250 200  nm. Infectivity is ether-sensitive. Genus includes viruses of lagomorphs and squirrels with extended cell culture host range. Usually viruses are mechanically transmitted by arthropods; but they are also transmitted by direct contact and fomites. Myxoma and fibroma viruses cause localized benign tumor-like lesions in their natural hosts. Myxoma viruses cause severe generalized disease in European rabbits. DNA is about 160  kbp, G+C about 40%. Extensive DNA cross-hybridization is observed between member viruses. Serologic cross-reaction and cross-protection has been demonstrated between different species.

List of Species Demarcation Criteria in the Genus

Provisional species demarcation criteria include various serological criteria including plaque neutralization tests, cross protection in animals and agar diffusion methods. Distribution, ecological niche, host range and disease, plaque characteristics, host range in cell culture and restriction enzyme polymorphisms are also suggested.

List of Species in the Genus

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:

Species in the Genus

Hare fibroma virus		(FIBV)
{European hare}
Myxoma virus	[125455]	(MYXV)
Rabbit fibroma virus	[M14899]	(SFV)
(Shope fibroma virus)
Squirrel fibroma virus		(SQFV)

Tentative Species in the Genus

None reported.