Subfamily Chordopoxvirinae
   Orthopoxvirus
   Parapoxvirus
   Avipoxvirus
   Capripoxvirus
   Leporipoxvirus
   Suipoxvirus
   Molluscipoxvirus
   Yatapoxvirus
Subfamily Entomopoxvirinae
   Entomopoxvirus A
   Entomopoxvirus B
   Entomopoxvirus C
Poxviruses (members of the family Poxviridae) can infect as a family both vertebrate and invertebrate animals. Poxviridae viral particles (virions) are enveloped and vary in their shape depending upon the species but are generally shaped like a brick or as an oval form similar to a rounded brick. The virion size is around 200 nm in diameter and 300 nm in length and carries its genome in a single, linear, double-stranded segment of DNA . By comparison, Rhinovirus is 1/10th as large as a typical Poxviridae virion². Electron micrographs of Orthopoxvirus and Parapoxvirus Genera, including the smallpox virus, have been collected by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses in their Poxviridae picture gallery.

The name of the family, Poxviridae, is a legacy of the original grouping of viruses associated with diseases that produced pocks in the skin. Modern viral classification is based on the shape and molecular features of viruses, and the smallpox virus remains as the most notable member of the family.

The following genera are currently included here:

• Subfamily Chordopoxvirinae
  • Genus Orthopoxvirus ; type species: Vaccinia virus; diseases: cowpox, vaccinia, smallpox
  • Genus Parapoxvirus; type species: Orf virus
  • Genus Avipoxvirus ; type species: Fowlpox virus
  • Genus Capripoxvirus ; type species: Sheeppox virus
  • Genus Leporipoxvirus ; type species: Myxoma virus
  • Genus Suipoxvirus ; type species: Swinepox virus
  • Genus Molluscipoxvirus ; type species: Molluscum contagiosum virus
  • Genus Yatapoxvirus ; type species: Yaba monkey tumor virus
• Subfamily Entomopoxvirinae
  • Genus Entomopoxvirus A ; type species: Melolontha melolontha entomopoxvirus
  • Genus Entomopoxvirus B ; type species: Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus
  • Genus Entomopoxvirus C ; type species: Chironomus luridus entomopoxvirus

==References==International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. ICTVdb Descriptions: 58. Poxviridae. Retrieved 2005-02-26.

Note 2: How Big is a ... ? at Cells Alive!. Retrieved 2005-02-26.

External link

Buller, R.M.; Palumbo, G.J. (1991). Poxvirus pathogenesis. Microbiological Reviews 55 (1), 80-122. Full text link provided by PubMed Central. Retrieved 2005-02-27.