Rubulaviruses are a group of viruses that belong to the Paramyxoviridae family, specifically the genus Rubulavirus. These viruses are known to infect and cause diseases in humans and animals. The name "rubula" is derived from the Latin word for "red," referring to the red rash that can be present in some rubulavirus infections.
Rubulaviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses that are enveloped by a lipid membrane. They have a helical symmetry and a genome that is approximately 15,000 nucleotides long. Some well-known rubulaviruses include the mumps virus, which causes mumps in humans, and the human parainfluenza virus type 2 and type 4, which are common causes of respiratory infections.
In humans, rubulaviruses primarily infect the respiratory tract and can cause a range of symptoms depending on the specific virus. These can include fever, headache, muscle aches, cough, sore throat, and swollen salivary glands in the case of mumps infection. In some cases, rubulaviruses can also cause more severe complications such as meningitis, encephalitis, or inflammation of the testicles or ovaries.
Rubulaviruses are typically transmitted through respiratory droplets from infected individuals. Vaccines have been developed for some rubulaviruses, like the mumps vaccine, which have been effective in reducing the incidence of these infections.
Overall, rubulaviruses are a diverse group of viruses that can cause significant illness in humans and animals, highlighting the importance of continued research and efforts to understand and combat these viral infections.
