Virus classification

Virus classification is the process of naming viruses and placing them into a taxonomic system.
Similar to the classification systems used for cellular organisms, virus classification is the subject
of ongoing debate and proposals. This is mainly due to the pseudo-living nature of viruses,
which are not yet definitively classified as living or non-living. As such, they do not fit neatly
into the established biological classification system in place for cellular organisms.

Viruses are mainly classified by phenotypic characteristics, such as morphology, nucleic acid
type, mode of replication, host organisms, and the type of disease they cause. Currently there are
two main schemes used for the classification of viruses, The Baltimore classification system,
which places viruses into one of seven groups. Named after David Baltimore, a Nobel Prize-
winning biologist, these groups are designated by Roman numerals and discriminate viruses
depending on their mode of replication, and genome type. Accompanying this broad method of
classification are specific naming conventions and further classification guidelines set out by the
International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses.

ETIOLOGY AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DISEASES

Diseases ETIOLOGY EPIDEMIOLOGY

FMD Aphthovirus genus and picornaviridae High morbidity rate and low mortality rate
family
RP Morbillivirus genus and paramyxoviridae High morbidity rate and high mortality rate
family
PPR Morbillivirus genus and paramyxoviridae High morbidity rate and high mortality rate
family
BT Orbivirus genus and reoviridae family High morbidity rate and high mortality rate
BVD Pestvirus genus and flaviviridae family High morbidity rate and high mortality rate