Emerging Infectious Disease ISSN: 1080-6059

Calicivirus
[kә-lis′ ǐ-vi′′rәs]

Etymologia

The name of these members of the Caliciviridae family of nonenveloped RNA viruses reflects their structure. They are icosahedral with 32 typical surface depressions that are sometimes described as hollows or cups (from Latin calyx, meaning cup). Feline calicivirus, a member of the genus Vesivirus, causes respiratory disease in cats. Members of other genera, Norovirus and Sapovirus, cause gastrointestinal disease in humans.

DOI: 10.3201/eid1512.E11512

Sources: Mahy BWJ. The dictionary of virology, 4th edition. London: Elsevier; 2009; Dorland’s illustrated medical dictionary, 31st edition. Philadelphia: Saunders; 2007.

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