Hamster polyomavirus
| Mesocricetus auratus polyomavirus 1 | |
|---|---|
Virus classification 
| |
| (unranked): | Virus |
| Realm: | Monodnaviria |
| Kingdom: | Shotokuvirae |
| Phylum: | Cossaviricota |
| Class: | Papovaviricetes |
| Order: | Sepolyvirales |
| Family: | Polyomaviridae |
| Genus: | Alphapolyomavirus |
| Species: | Mesocricetus auratus polyomavirus 1
|
Hamster polyomavirus (abbreviated HaPyV or HaPV,
Genome and taxonomy
The organization of the HaPyV
HaPyV and MPyV are closely genetically related; until recently, they were the only two members of the polyomavirus family known to express the
Structure
Following the typical pattern for polyomaviruses, the HaPyV
Infection and clinical manifestations
Hamster polyomavirus was originally identified in hamster
HaPyV has primarily been reported in research colonies; it appeared apparently spontaneously in the colony from which it was first described and in which it became enzootic.[3] It was also identified in a 2001 case report as naturally occurring in a pet Syrian hamster.[12] It is shed in urine and this is believed to be the mechanism for transmission, similar to what is observed in mouse polyomavirus. While many known hamster viruses are clinically inapparent, HaPyV (along with hamster parvovirus) is unusual in causing clinically significant disease.[1] The virulence of HaPyV in Syrian hamsters may be due to cross-species transmission from the European hamster, most likely the natural host.[10]
Notes
- ^ This was the historically common abbreviation; however, it is ambiguous because it is also used for hamster parvovirus.