Taxonomy of the caliciviruses

Abstract

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) has recently approved several proposals submitted by the present Caliciviridae study group. These proposals include the division of the family into 4 new genera designated Lagovirus, Vesivirus, 'Norwalk-like viruses' (NLVs), and 'Sapporo- like viruses' (SLVs); the latter 2 genera were assigned temporary names until acceptable names can be determined by the scientific community. The genera have been further divided into the following species: Feline calicivirus and vesicular exanthema of swine virus (genus Vesivirus), rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus and European brown hare syndrome virus (genus Lagovirus), Norwalk virus (genus NLV), and Sapporo virus (genus SLV). In addition, the ICTV approved a proposal to remove the hepatitis E virus from the Caliciviridae into an 'unassigned' classification status.