What is "parvovirus"

1965, from parvi- + connecting element -o- + virus.

n. 1 any single-stranded DNA viruses, of the genus ''Parvovirus'', being the smallest found in nature; they infect only mammals other than humans. 2 Certain small viruses, not in genus ''Parvovirus'', that infect humans.

n. any of a group of viruses containing DNA in an icosahedral protein shell and causing disease in dogs and cattle; not known to be associated with any human disease [syn: parvo]

Parvovirus is the common name applied to all the viruses in the Parvoviridae taxonomic family. The Parvoviridae family has two subfamilies; the Parvovirinae (vertebrate viruses) and the Densovirinae (invertebrate viruses). Different examples can be given for the subfamily Parvovirinae but the most common is Dependovirus, which only work with a helper virus such as adenovirus. Other viruses that can infect without helper viruses are called as autonomous parvoviruses.

Parvoviruses are linear, non-segmented single-stranded DNA viruses, with an average genome size of 5000 nucleotides. They are classified as group II viruses in Baltimore classification of viruses. Parvoviruses are among the smallest viruses (hence the name, from Latin parvus meaning small) and are 18–28 nm in diameter. Parvoviruses can cause disease in some animals, including starfish and humans. Because the viruses require actively dividing cells to replicate, the type of tissue infected varies with the age of the animal. The gastrointestinal tract and lymphatic system can be affected at any age, leading to vomiting, diarrhea and immunosuppression but cerebellar hypoplasia is only seen in cats that were infected in the womb or at less than two weeks of age, and disease of the myocardium is seen in puppies infected between the ages of three and eight weeks.