Host Range and Specificity of Viruses in Lower Vertebrates
Author Information
Author(s): Isabel BandÃn, Carlos P. Dopazo
Primary Institution: Instituto de Acuicultura, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Hypothesis
Natural host switch events among viruses of lower vertebrates, especially fish viruses, are hypothesized to be frequent despite the challenges of interspecies transmission.
Conclusion
The review highlights the broad host range of many viruses affecting lower vertebrates and discusses documented and hypothesized cases of host shifts.
Supporting Evidence
- Viruses of lower vertebrates include a variety of viral agents with different host specificities.
- Ranaviruses have been shown to infect multiple vertebrate classes, including amphibians, reptiles, and fish.
- Betanodaviruses exhibit variations in host specificity, with some strains capable of infecting a wide range of fish species.
Takeaway
Some viruses can jump from one type of animal to another, which can cause big problems for the new animals they infect.
Methodology
The review compiles and analyzes existing literature on viral host ranges and shifts among lower vertebrates.
Limitations
The understanding of host specificity patterns varies greatly among different viral groups, and many viruses have only been characterized based on field isolates.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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