Parapoxviruses

Parapoxvirus is a genus of globally occurring viruses in the family Poxviridae, in the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae. The genus Parapoxvirus includes numerous species with a narrow host specificity. Among others, the following animal species are attacked, including sheep, deer, cattle, croissants, camels, seals and reindeer.

Some parapoxviruses can also cause disease symptoms in humans.

• Milking knot virus(milking knot)
• Parapoxvirus ovis(Ecthyma contagiosum)

Parapoxvirus is a genus of viruses in the family Poxviridae, in the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae. The genus Parapoxvirus includes numerous species with a narrow host specificity.

Among others, the following animal species are attacked, such as sheep, deer, cattle, croissants, camels, seals and reindeer.

Parapoxviruses have an oval shape. They are about 220 to 300 nm long and 140 to 170 nm wide. The genome of parapoxviruses is a double-stranded, linear DNA with a size of 130 to 150 kb. The different species of the genus show genetically a high diversity and narrow host specificity.

1. Chakhunashvili G et al (2018) Parapoxvirus Infections in the Country of Georgia: A Case Series. At J Trop Med Hyg 98:1870-1875.