Virus Taxonomy The ICTV Report on Virus Classification and Taxon Nomenclature Iridoviridae Chapter Iridoviridae

Members of the family Iridoviridae comprise a collection of large icosahedral, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA)-containing viruses that are classified into two subfamilies: Alphairidovirinae and Betairidovirinae (Table 1.Iridoviridae). The former is comprised of three genera (Ranavirus, Megalocytivirus and Lymphocystivirus) whose members infect primarily ectothermic vertebrates such as bony fish, amphibians and reptiles, whereas the latter contains three genera (Iridovirus, Chloriridovirus, and Decapodiridovirus) whose members infect mainly invertebrates such as insects and crustaceans. Viral macromolecular synthesis involves both nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments and virion assembly takes place in the cytoplasm within morphologically distinct viral assembly sites. Mature, non-enveloped, but otherwise infectious, virions may remain within the cytoplasm from which they are released by cell lysis, or virions may acquire an envelope by budding from the plasma membrane. To avoid confusion between members of the genus Iridovirus and members of the family, members of the family will be referred to as iridovirids, rather than iridoviruses.