Family: Polyomaviridae

Genus: Zetapolyomavirus

Distinguishing features

Members belong to a single species and infect dolphins. Dolphin polyomavirus 1 (DPyV) can cause respiratory disease in its host. 

Virion

See discussion under family description. 

Genome organization and replication

See discussion under family description. 

Biology

See discussion under family description. 

Species demarcation criteria

There is currently only one species in the genus. Additional species will be demarcated on the basis of:

1. Sufficient information on the natural host
2. Observed genetic distance from a member of the most closely related species is >15% nucleotide difference for the LTAg coding sequence
3. When two polyomaviruses exhibit <15% observed genetic distance (as defined above), biological properties may be of additional critical importance (e.g. host specificity, disease association, tissue tropism, etc.)