Rhabdoviridae

A family of rod- or bullet-shaped viruses of vertebrates, insects, and plants, including rabiesvirus and vesicular stomatitis virus (of cattle). Virions (100–430 by 45–100 nm), formed by budding from surface membranes of cells, are enveloped and ether sensitive, with surface spikes 5–10 nm long; nucleocapsids contain negative sense single-stranded RNA (MW ∼4.4 × 10⁶) and are of helical symmetry. There are five genera : Vesiculovirus, Lyssavirus, Ephemerovirus, Nucleorhabdovirus, and Cytorhabdovirus.

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Rhab·do·vi·ri·dae .rab-(.)dō-'vir-ə-.dē n pl a family of single-stranded RNA viruses that are rod- or bullet-shaped, are found in plants and animals, and include the causative agents of rabies and vesicular stomatitis

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Rhab·do·vi·ri·dae (rab″do-virґĭ-de) the rhabdoviruses: a family of RNA viruses having a bullet- or rod-shaped virion 130–430 Ч 45–100 nm consisting of a lipid-containing envelope, with large G-protein peplomers, surrounding a helical nucleocapsid. The genome consists of a single molecule of negative-sense single-stranded RNA (MW 3.5–4.6 Ч 10⁶, size 11–15 kb). Viruses contain four or five major polypeptides, including a transcriptase, and are sensitive to lipid solvents, detergents, and proteolytic enzymes. Replication occurs in the cytoplasm and assembly is by budding on the plasma membrane or intracytoplasmic membranes. Transmission is by biologic or mechanical vectors. Vertebrate pathogens are included in the genera Vesiculovirus, Lyssavirus, and Ephemerovirus; at least six serogroups of viruses that infect animals and a large number of ungrouped viruses have not yet been assigned to genera.