Reoviruses

Definition

A diverse group of non-enveloped, double-stranded RNA viruses (order Reovirales) that infect animals, plants, and fungi. In entomology and disease ecology, several reoviruses are significant arthropod-borne pathogens or arthropod-specific viruses that replicate in insect vectors or hosts, with some transmitted transovarially or causing cytopathic effects in mosquito, leafhopper, or crustacean cells.

Etymology

From respiratory enteric orphan virus, originally isolated from human respiratory and enteric tracts without known disease association.

Example

Nilaparvata lugens reovirus infects the brown planthopper, a major rice pest, and is studied for potential use in biological control; Aedes pseudoscutellaris reovirus was isolated from mosquito cell lines used in arbovirus research.

Related Terms

• Arbovirus
• Transovarial transmission
• Cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus
• viral vector
• insect cell culture
• Reovirales
• Sedoreoviridae
• Spinareoviridae

Usage Notes

The term now encompasses multiple families (Sedoreoviridae, Spinareoviridae, etc.) rather than a single family; many insect reoviruses remain unclassified or are placed provisionally. Not to be confused with rotaviruses (once considered reoviruses but now in separate family). In arthropod contexts, distinguish from RNA viruses with enveloped virions (e.g., flaviviruses, alphaviruses).