Morbillivirus is a genus of viruses in the order Mononegavirales, in the family Paramyxoviridae. Humans, dogs, cats, cattle, seals, and cetaceans serve as natural hosts. This genus contains 10 species, one of which is extinct. Diseases in humans associated with viruses classified in this genus include measles; in animals, they include acute febrile respiratory tract infection and Canine distemper. In 2013, a wave of increased death among the Common bottlenose dolphin population was attributed to morbillivirus.

Taxonomy

The genus contains the following species, listed by scientific name and followed by the exemplar virus of the species:

  • Morbillivirus canis, Canine distemper virus
  • Morbillivirus caprinae, Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus
  • Morbillivirus ceti, Cetacean morbillivirus
  • Morbillivirus felis, Feline morbillivirus
  • Morbillivirus hominis, Measles virus
  • Morbillivirus myotis, Myotis bat morbillivirus
  • †Morbillivirus pecoris, Rinderpest virus
  • Morbillivirus phocae, Phocine distemper virus
  • Morbillivirus phyllostomi, Phyllostomus bat morbillivirus
  • Morbillivirus suis, Porcine morbillivirus

Structure

thumb|left|Schematic diagram of a Morbillivirus virion (cross section)

Morbillivirions are enveloped, with spherical geometries. Their diameter is around 150 nm.

Genomes are linear, around 15–16 kb in length. The genome codes for eight proteins. Transmission routes are respiratory. Morbillivirus are sensitive to high temperatures, sunlight, extreme pH levels, and any chemical that can destroy its outer envelope.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

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! Genus !! Host details !! Tissue tropism !! Entry details !! Release details !! Replication site !! Assembly site !! Transmission

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|Morbillivirus||Humans, dogs, cats, cetaceans||None||Glycoprotein||Budding||Cytoplasm||Cytoplasm||Aerosols

|}

References

  • ICTV Report: Paramyxoviridae
  • Viralzone: Morbillivirus
  • Virus Pathogen Database and Analysis Resource (ViPR): Paramyxoviridae