Type Species

Molluscum contagiosum virus

(MOCV)

Distinguishing Features

Virions are brick-shaped, about 320 250 200 nm. Their buoyant density in CsCl is about 1.288 g/cm³. DNA is about 188 kbp in size, G+C content is about 60%. DNAs cross-hybridize extensively. Restriction maps suggest two major sequence divergences among the isolates examined. Molluscum contagiosum virus grows poorly or not at all in primary human and other cell cultures. It is transmitted mechanically by direct contact between children, or between young adults. It is often sexually transmitted. Sometimes the virus causes opportunistic infections of persons with eczyma or AIDS. Virus produces localized lesions containing enlarged cells with cytoplasmic inclusions known as molluscum bodies. Infections can recur and lesions may be disfiguring when combined with bacterial infections.

List of Species Demarcation Criteria in the Genus

There is only one species. However, restriction enzyme polymorphisms (RFLPs) suggest that there are at least two major variants, which may require future classification.

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, genome sequence accession number [ ], and assigned abbreviation ( ) are:

Species in the Genus

Molluscum contagiosum virus

[U60315]

(MOCV)

Tentative Species in the Genus

Unnamed viruses of horses, donkeys and chimpanzees.