| Ectromelia virus | |
|---|---|
| Virus classification | |
| Group: | Group I (dsDNA) |
| Order: | Unassigned |
| Family: | Poxviridae |
| Subfamily: | Chordopoxvirinae |
| Genus: | Orthopoxvirus |
| Type species | |
| Vaccinia virus |
|
| Species | |
|
Ectromelia virus |
|
Ectromelia virus (ECTV) is a virus of the family Poxviridae and the genus Orthopoxvirus that causes mousepox, a disease of mice. It has only been seen in mouse colonies kept for research purposes.[1] Mousepox causes skin lesions and generalized disease, which can be fatal. It is the only poxvirus to cause disease naturally in mice.