ICTV Report

Family: Aspiviridae

Genus: Ophiovirus

 

Distinguishing features

Since only one genus is currently recognized, the genus description corresponds to the family description. 

 

Species demarcation criteria

The different criteria considered for species demarcation in the genus are:

  • differences in coat protein (CP) mass
  • serological relationship between CPs
  • differences in natural host range
  • different number, organization and/or size of genome segments. 

Alignments between citrus psorosis virus, freesia sneak virus, Mirafiori lettuce big-vein virus, lettuce ring necrosis virus, blueberry mosaic associated virus and ranunculus white mottle virus (partial sequence) CP amino acid sequences show 31–52% identity, whereas isolates of the same species show over 92% identity. Since CPs of Mirafiori lettuce big-vein virus and tulip mild mottle mosaic virus (partial cds) share about 80% amino acid sequence identity, this may warrant the establishment of the following molecular criterion for ophiovirus species demarcation: CP amino acid sequence identity <85%.