Virus

The yellow fever virus is transmitted by the bite of female mosquitoes and is found in tropical and subtropical areas in South America and Africa, not in Asia. Since the...

West Nile virus is found in both tropical and temperate regions. It mainly infects birds, but is known to infect humans, horses, dogs, cats, bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, domestic rabbits,...

The variola virus includes several strains, all of which cause various "pox" diseases with the most famous one being Smallpox. Variola caprina is the virus that causes goatpox, and Variola...

Rubella, commonly known as German measles, is a disease caused by the rubella virus. Rubella is a common childhood infection usually with minimal systemic upset although transient arthropathy (joint condition)...

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among infants and young children, accounting for close to 50% of hospitalizations for that. It is one of several viruses that...

Human rhinoviruses are the most common viral infective agents in humans and are the predominant cause of the common cold. There are two modes of transmission: aerosols of respiratory droplets...

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a virus that causes respiratory tract infections. It is the major cause of lower respiratory tract infections and results in many hospital visits during...

Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). It is zoonotic (i.e., transmitted by beasts), most commonly by a bite from an infected subject. Roughly,...

The B19 virus, generally referred to as parvovirus B19 or sometimes erythrovirus B19, causes a childhood rash called fifth disease or erythema infectiosum, which is commonly called "slapped cheek syndrome"....

HPIVs (human parainfluenza viruses) are spread person to person by direct contact with infected secretions through respiratory droplets or contaminated surfaces or objects. Infection can occur when infectious material contacts...

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) establish productive infections either in keratinocytes of the skin (outermost layer of the skin, causing warts) or in mucous membranes, as in the case of HPV. HPV...

Hepatitis A is caused by eating food and drinking water infected with a virus called HAV. It can also be caused by anal-oral contact during sex. Tens of millions of...

Echo (Enteric Cytopathic Human Orphan) viruses are found in the gastrointestinal tract (hence it being part of the enterovirus genus) and exposure to these viruses causes other opportunistic infections and...

Enteroviruses are a genus of viruses associated with several human and mammalian diseases. On the basis of their pathogenesis in humans and animals, the enteroviruses were originally classified into four...

Dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Dengue is carried and transmitted by the mosquito. Typically, people infected with dengue...

Coxsackieviruses are part of the enterovirus family that thrive in the human digestive tract. They are very contagious and can spread from person to person, usually on unwashed hands and...

Coronaviruses primarily infect the upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tract of mammals and birds. The most publicized human coronavirus is SARS, which has a unique pathogenesis because it causes both upper...

Bocavirus is a fairly new virus, in terms of discovery. It is generally found in infants and children that are very sick with acute respiratory tract infections. It has been...

Astroviruses cause gastroenteritis, predominantly diarrhea, usually in children under five years old although it has been reported in adults. Studies show that more than 80% of children between 5 and...

Adenovirus is a group of viruses responsible for a spectrum of respiratory disease as well as infection of the stomach and intestine (gastroenteritis), eyes (conjunctivitis), bladder (cystitis) and rash. Adenovirus...

Viruses are too small to be seen by the naked eye. They are made up of genetic materials (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protective coat of protein. They are...