Arteriviruses is a term commonly used in the field of virology to describe a group of viruses that belong to the Nidovirales order. The spelling of this word is based on the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) phonetic transcription system, where the word is broken down into syllables as 'ar-te-ri-'vi-ru-ses'. The letter 'r' represents a trilled or rolled sound, while the letters 'i' and 'u' denote short vowel sounds. Together, these sounds make up the proper pronunciation of Arteriviruses.
Arteriviruses are a family of small, single-stranded RNA viruses that belong to the order Nidovirales. They are known to infect a wide variety of mammals, including humans, pigs, horses, and rodents. The name "arterivirus" is derived from their ability to cause lesions in the arterial walls of infected animals.
These viruses have a unique genome structure and replication strategy. They possess a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome that is approximately 12-15 kilobases in length. The genome has several open reading frames (ORFs), which encode various nonstructural and structural proteins required for viral replication and assembly.
Arteriviruses are primarily transmitted through close contact with infected animals or their bodily fluids, such as respiratory secretions, urine, or feces. Infections can lead to a range of clinical symptoms, including fever, respiratory distress, diarrhea, and reproductive disorders.
One of the most well-known arteriviruses is equine arteritis virus (EAV), which primarily affects horses and has a global distribution. Another notable member is porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), which causes significant economic losses in the global swine industry.
Arteriviruses are of significant concern due to their ability to evolve rapidly and cause disease outbreaks with high morbidity and mortality rates. Research and surveillance efforts are focused on understanding their molecular biology, epidemiology, and developing effective diagnostic tools, vaccines, and antiviral treatments to control and prevent their spread.
The word "Arteriviruses" is derived from the combination of two parts: "Arteri-" and "-viruses".
1. "Arteri-" is derived from the word "artery", which refers to the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The term "artery" comes from the Latin word "arteria", meaning "windpipe" or "airhole". In ancient Greek, "arteria" was used to describe the windpipe and arteries interchangeably, as they were believed to carry air, or vital spirit, throughout the body. Over time, the term "artery" became associated specifically with the blood vessels.
2. "-viruses" is a suffix used to indicate viruses or viral infections. It is derived from the Latin word "virus", meaning "poison" or "slimy liquid".