Open AccessViruses of Lower Vertebrates
Author(s) -
Essbauer S.,
Ahne W.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of veterinary medicine, series b
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1439-0450
pISSN - 0931-1793
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0450.2001.00473.x
Subject(s) - biology , poikilotherm , context (archaeology) , wildlife , zoology , virology , amphibian , fish <actinopterygii> , rna , ecology , genetics , fishery , gene , paleontology
Viruses of lower vertebrates recently became a field of interest to the public due to increasing epizootics and economic losses of poikilothermic animals. These were reported worldwide from both wildlife and collections of aquatic poikilothermic animals. Several RNA and DNA viruses infecting fish, amphibians and reptiles have been studied intensively during the last 20 years. Many of these viruses induce diseases resulting in important economic losses of lower vertebrates, especially in fish aquaculture. In addition, some of the DNA viruses seem to be emerging pathogens involved in the worldwide decline in wildlife. Irido‐, herpes‐ and polyomavirus infections may be involved in the reduction in the numbers of endangered amphibian and reptile species. In this context the knowledge of several important RNA viruses such as orthomyxo‐, paramyxo‐, rhabdo‐, retro‐, corona‐, calici‐, toga‐, picorna‐, noda‐, reo‐ and birnaviruses, and DNA viruses such as parvo‐, irido‐, herpes‐, adeno‐, polyoma‐ and poxviruses, is described in this review.