Subfamily: Simarterivirinae

Genus: Epsilonarterivirus

Distinguishing features

The viruses simian hemorrhagic encephalitis virus (SHEV), Zambian malbrouck virus 1 (ZMbV- 1) and South African Free State vervet virus (FSVV) are known to infect Old World cercopithecine primates, causing haemorrhagic and encephalitic disease in captive macaques (SHEV) and subclinical infections in wild African primates of the genus Cercopithecus (ZMbV- 1, FSVV). 

Virion

See discussion under family description. 

Genome organization and replication

See discussion under family description. 

Biology

See discussion under family description. 

Derivation of names

Subgenus Sheartevirus: from simian hemorrhagic encephalitis virus and the genus name Epsilonarterivirus

Species Epsilonarterivirus hemcep: from the genus name and simian hemorrhagic encephalitis virus

Species Epsilonarterivirus safriver: from the genus name and South African Free State vervet virus

Species Epsilonarterivirus zamalb: from the genus name and Zambian malbrouck virus 1

Species demarcation criteria

See “Subfamily, genus and species demarcation criteria” section on the family for species demarcation criteria which are universal for all subfamilies.