What is "robovirus"

A robovirus is a zoonotic virus that is transmitted by a rodent (i.e., rodent borne).

Roboviruses belong to the Bunyaviridae and Arenaviridae families of viruses. Like arbovirus (arthropod borne) and tibovirus (tick borne) the name refers to its method of transmission, known as its vector. This is distinguished from a clade, which groups around a common ancestor. Some scientists now refer to arbovirus and robovirus together with the term ArboRobo-virus.

One example of a robovirus is Hantaan River virus, which is believed to be transmitted through the inhalation of airborne particles of the urine or feces of the striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius. Both hantaviruses and arenaviruses can induce hemorrhagic fever in humans.

Since rodent populations are affected by a number of factors, including climactic conditions, global climate change will affect the distribution and prevalence of roboviruses.