Cardiovirus

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Cardiovirus
Virus classification
Group: Group IV ((+)ssRNA)
Order: Picornavirales
Family: Picornaviridae
Genus: Cardiovirus
Type species
Encephalomyocarditis virus
Species

Cardiovirus is a genus within the family Picornaviridae. The genus comprises two species: Encephalomyocarditis virus and Theilovirus. Encephalomyocarditis virus has only one serotype (of the same name), while Theilovirus consists of four viruses which are probably serologically distinct; these are Theiler's encephalomyelitis_virus (TMEV), Vilyuisk human encephalomyelitis virus (VHEV), a Theiler-like virus (TLV) of rats (which has yet to be named) and Saffold virus (SAF-V).[1]

Virology

Cardioviruses infect vertebrates. The virion is non-enveloped and contains a strand of positive sense, single-stranded RNA. The virion shows icosahedral symmetry and is around 30 nm in diameter. The 3’ end of the genome encodes a polyA tail while the 5’ end encodes a genome-linked protein. A unique feature of this genus is the presence of the L* protein that is made out of frame from the polyprotein and is present in the DA subgroup of TMEV. It has been found to be important for the virus pathogenesis.

In the case of encephalomyocarditis virus, the virus can cause encephalitis and myocarditis, mostly in rodents, which are natural hosts. The virus is transmitted from rodents to other animals. Severe epidemics have been seen in swine and elephants.[2]

Replication of cardioviruses is dependent on a structured RNA element called the Cardiovirus cis-acting replication element (CRE).

Clinical

Human cardioviruses were first isolated in 1981. Seven additional isolates have since been described. They have been associated with gastroenteritis, influenza-like symptoms and non polio associated acute flaccid paralysis in North America, Europe and South Asia.

References

  1. ↑ Jones, MS.; Lukashov, VV; Ganac, RD; Schnurr, DP. (July 2007). "Discovery of a novel Human Picornavirus in a stool sample from a pediatric patient presenting with fever of unknown origin". Journal of Clinical Microbiology 45 (7). doi:10.1128/JCM.00174-07. 
  2. ↑ Fenner FJ. Gibbs EPJ, Murphy FA, Rott R, Studdert MJ, White, DO (1993). Veterinary Virology (2nd ed.). Academic Press, Inc. ISBN 0-12-253056-X. 

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