In this comprehensive guide, you will find a complete list of 63 scientifically recognized viruses that start with the letter “J.” These viruses come from diverse families and affect a wide range of hosts, including humans, animals, plants, and insects. Many are transmitted by arthropods like mosquitoes and ticks, highlighting the important role of vectors in viral spread. From the well-known JC polyomavirus, which affects humans, to plant viruses like Jasmine virus H, this collection covers viruses with different transmission methods and health impacts around the world.
Explore the detailed table below to understand each virus better.
Virus Name This column lists the official name of each virus, providing a clear identifier to help you recognize and distinguish between viruses beginning with “J.”
Classification Here, you find the virus family and genus or category, which shows the scientific grouping of the virus based on genetic traits and behavior.
Primary Hosts This column tells you which organisms the virus primarily infects, such as humans, animals, plants, or insects, giving insight into where the virus is commonly found.
Associated Illness/Symptoms Details about the typical symptoms or diseases caused by the virus are listed here, helping you understand its health effects or impact on hosts.
Transmission Method This section explains how the virus spreads, such as through mosquitoes, ticks, animal contact, or environmental exposure, clarifying the main ways infections occur.
Viruses that start with J
| Viruses | Classification | Affects humans? | Symptoms | Transmission method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus | Retroviridae, Betaretrovirus | No | Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (lung cancer) | Respiratory secretions (aerosol) |
| Jackson Bay virus | Reoviridae, Orbivirus | No | No specific known symptoms in humans; found in mosquitoes and wildlife. | Arthropod-borne (mosquitoes) |
| Jacareacanga virus | Bunyaviridae, Orthobunyavirus | Yes (rarely reported) | Febrile illness, headache, myalgia. | Arthropod-borne (mosquitoes) |
| Jacoona virus | Rhabdoviridae, Lyssavirus (proposed) | Potentially | Neurological symptoms (extrapolated from related viruses like rabies). | Animal bites (bats) |
| Jamanxi virus | Peribunyaviridae, Orthobunyavirus | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (mosquitoes) or rodent contact. |
| Jamestown Canyon virus | Peribunyaviridae, Orthobunyavirus | Yes | Febrile illness, headache, fatigue, sometimes encephalitis or meningitis. | Arthropod-borne (mosquitoes) |
| Japanese encephalitis virus | Flaviviridae, Flavivirus | Yes | Febrile illness, headache, convulsions, paralysis, severe encephalitis. | Arthropod-borne (mosquitoes, mainly Culex) |
| Japura virus | Phenuiviridae, Phlebovirus (likely) | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (sandflies) |
| Jari virus | Orthobunyavirus (likely) | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (mosquitoes) |
| Jarija virus | Nairoviridae, Orthonairovirus | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (ticks) |
| Jasmine virus H | Rhabdoviridae, Cytorhabdovirus | No | Symptoms in jasmine plants (e.g., mosaic, leaf deformation). | Insect vectors (aphids/leafhoppers) |
| Jasmine virus T | Rhabdoviridae, Cytorhabdovirus | No | Symptoms in jasmine plants. | Insect vectors |
| Jasmine yellow mosaic virus | Geminiviridae, Begomovirus | No | Yellow mosaic and leaf distortion in jasmine plants. | Insect vectors (whiteflies) |
| Jatobal virus | Bunyaviridae, Orthobunyavirus | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (mosquitoes) |
| Jatropha leaf curl Gujarat virus | Geminiviridae, Begomovirus | No | Leaf curling, yellowing, and stunting in Jatropha plants. | Insect vectors (whiteflies) |
| Jatropha mosaic virus | Geminiviridae, Begomovirus | No | Mosaic patterns, leaf distortion, and stunting in Jatropha plants. | Insect vectors (whiteflies) |
| Jatropha yellow mosaic virus | Geminiviridae, Begomovirus | No | Yellow mosaic patterns and stunting in Jatropha plants. | Insect vectors (whiteflies) |
| Jaunpur virus | Rhabdoviridae, Ephemerovirus | No | Febrile illness, lameness in cattle. | Arthropod-borne (midges) |
| JC polyomavirus | Polyomaviridae, Gammapolyomavirus | Yes | Typically asymptomatic; causes Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) in immunocompromised individuals. | Common, often respiratory or fecal-oral in childhood. Reactivates later. |
| Jeju anthurium mottle virus | Tombusviridae, Carmovirus (tentative) | No | Mottle symptoms in anthurium plants. | Mechanical, possibly sap or soil. |
| Jeju betanecrovirus | Betanecrovirus (unclassified family) | No | No known human symptoms. | Unclear (marine environment) |
| Jeju sediment-associated cress-like virus | Unclassified | No | No known human symptoms. | Environmental (sediment) |
| Jeju thrips-vectored ophiovirus | Ophioviridae, Ophiovirus | No | Symptoms in plants (e.g., leaf streaking, necrosis). | Insect vectors (thrips) |
| Jembrana disease virus | Retroviridae, Deltaretrovirus | No | Severe acute disease in Bali cattle, high fever, anemia, hemorrhage. | Mechanical (biting flies), possibly contact. |
| Jericho virus | Paramyxoviridae, Morbillivirus | No | No known human symptoms; potentially affects bats. | Animal contact (bats) |
| Jian san dinornavirus | Dinornaviridae, Dinornavirus | No | No known human symptoms. | Unclear (insect virus) |
| Jian virus | Flaviviridae, Flavivirus (tentative) | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (mosquitoes) |
| Jianchuan fly virus 1 | Unclassified (insect virus) | No | No known human symptoms. | Unclear (insect virus) |
| Jiangjin orbivirus | Reoviridae, Orbivirus | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (ticks) |
| Jiangsu alphamesonivirus 1 | Mesoniviridae, Alphamesonivirus | No | No known human symptoms. | Unclear (insect virus) |
| Jiangsu sediment picornavirus 1 | Picornaviridae, Picornavirus (tentative) | No | No known human symptoms. | Environmental (sediment) |
| Jiangsu spider virus 1 | Unclassified (insect virus) | No | No known human symptoms. | Unclear (spider virus) |
| Jiangsu tarn virus | Unclassified (insect virus) | No | No known human symptoms. | Unclear (insect virus) |
| Jiangsu wasp virus | Unclassified (insect virus) | No | No known human symptoms. | Unclear (insect virus) |
| Jiangxia mosquito virus | Reoviridae, Cypovirus (tentative) | No | No known human symptoms. | Unclear (insect virus) |
| Jiaojiang unclassified chuvirus 1 | Unclassified (Chuviridae family likely) | No | No known human symptoms. | Unclear (insect virus) |
| Jiaomu-JFM virus | Unclassified (fungal virus) | No | No known human symptoms. | Unclear (fungal virus) |
| Jibome virus | Unclassified (isolated from ticks) | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (ticks) |
| Jilong virus | Rhabdoviridae, Vesiculovirus (tentative) | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (ticks) |
| Jilin heyang virus | Rhabdoviridae, Ephemerovirus | No | No known human symptoms; affects cattle. | Arthropod-borne (midges) |
| Jilin virus | Reoviridae, Orbivirus (tentative) | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (ticks) |
| Jimbu virus | Bunyaviridae, Orthobunyavirus (tentative) | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (mosquitoes) |
| Jinghong virus | Jinghongviridae (proposed family), Jinghongvirus (proposed genus) | No | No known human symptoms. | Unclear (bats, mosquitoes) |
| Jingmen mivirus 1 | Jingmenviridae, Jingmenvirus | Potentially | Fever, headache, myalgia (limited human data). | Arthropod-borne (ticks, mosquitoes) |
| Jingmen tick virus | Jingmenviridae, Jingmenvirus | Potentially | Fever, headache, myalgia (limited human data). | Arthropod-borne (ticks, mosquitoes) |
| Jinhua unclassified rhabdovirus 1 | Unclassified (Rhabdoviridae family likely) | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne |
| Jining unclassified tombus-like virus 1 | Unclassified (Tombusviridae family likely) | No | No known human symptoms. | Unclear (insect virus) |
| Jiqui virus | Orthobunyavirus (tentative) | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (mosquitoes) |
| Jirdpox virus | Poxviridae, Orthopoxvirus | No | Pox lesions in jirds (rodents). | Contact, possibly aerosol, or biting insects. |
| Joinville virus | Tombusviridae, Carmovirus (tentative) | No | Symptoms in plants (e.g., mosaic, necrosis). | Mechanical, sap. |
| Johnsongrass mosaic virus | Potyviridae, Potyvirus | No | Mosaic, streaking, and stunting in Johnsongrass and other grasses (e.g., maize, sorghum). | Mechanical, aphid vectors (non-persistent). |
| Johnston Atoll virus | Togaviridae, Alphavirus | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (ticks) |
| Johor virus | Paramyxoviridae, Henipavirus (tentative) | No | No known human symptoms; affects bats. | Animal contact (bats) |
| Jonquil mild mosaic virus | Potyviridae, Potyvirus | No | Mild mosaic patterns and streaking in jonquils and other Narcissus species. | Mechanical, aphid vectors. |
| Juan Dia virus | Orthomyxoviridae, Thogotovirus | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (ticks) |
| Jugra virus | Rhabdoviridae, Vesiculovirus | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (ticks) |
| Jujuy virus | Bunyaviridae, Orthobunyavirus | Yes (rarely reported) | Febrile illness, headache, myalgia, potentially encephalitis. | Arthropod-borne (mosquitoes) |
| Juncopox virus | Poxviridae, Avipoxvirus | No | Pox lesions, tumors in juncos (birds). | Contact, biting insects (mosquitoes). |
| Jundiaquara virus | Bunyaviridae, Orthobunyavirus | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (mosquitoes) |
| Junin virus | Arenaviridae, Mammarenavirus | Yes | Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF): fever, malaise, hemorrhage, neurological signs. | Rodent excreta (aerosol, direct contact), contaminated food/water. |
| Jurona virus | Peribunyaviridae, Orthobunyavirus | No | No known human symptoms. | Arthropod-borne (mosquitoes) |
| Jussiaea mosaic virus | Geminiviridae, Begomovirus (tentative) | No | Mosaic symptoms in Jussiaea plants. | Insect vectors (whiteflies) |
| Jutiapa virus | Arenaviridae, Mammarenavirus | No | No known human symptoms. | Rodent excreta. |
Descriptions
Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus
A retrovirus causing a contagious lung cancer in sheep, known as ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma. This virus primarily affects sheep populations globally.
Jackson Bay virus
An orbivirus first isolated from mosquitoes in Australia. It is part of a large family of viruses, with many members known to be arthropod-borne, primarily affecting wildlife.
Jacareacanga virus
An orthobunyavirus isolated in Brazil, belonging to a genus known for causing febrile illnesses in humans and animals, typically transmitted by mosquitoes in tropical regions.
Jacoona virus
A bat-associated lyssavirus, related to the rabies virus. It is primarily found in bats and, like other lyssaviruses, has the potential for zoonotic transmission.
Jamanxi virus
An orthobunyavirus identified in China, isolated from both mosquitoes and rodents. Its role in human disease is not well-characterized, but it is a focus of ecological viral surveillance.
Jamestown Canyon virus
An orthobunyavirus prevalent in North America, causing flu-like symptoms and, in severe cases, neuroinvasive disease such as encephalitis or meningitis in humans, transmitted by mosquitoes.
Japanese encephalitis virus
A serious mosquito-borne flavivirus, endemic in Asia, causing Japanese encephalitis. It can lead to severe neurological disease, including brain inflammation, often with a high fatality rate.
Japura virus
A phlebovirus identified in sandflies in Brazil. While many phleboviruses cause febrile illness, this specific virus’s impact on human health remains uncharacterized.
Jari virus
A virus primarily isolated from mosquitoes in tropical regions, specifically identified in Brazil. Its pathogenicity for humans or other vertebrates is not yet established.
Jarija virus
An orthonairovirus first isolated from ticks in China. Many viruses in this family are tick-borne, but Jarija virus’s specific impact on human or animal health is currently unknown.
Jasmine virus H
A plant rhabdovirus affecting jasmine plants, causing characteristic disease symptoms like mosaic patterns on leaves. It is transmitted by insect vectors and is not known to affect humans.
Jasmine virus T
Another plant rhabdovirus, closely related to Jasmine virus H, also impacting jasmine plants. These viruses are plant pathogens and pose no known risk to human health.
Jasmine yellow mosaic virus
A begomovirus that causes significant disease in jasmine plants, leading to yellow mosaic patterns and deformed leaves. It is transmitted by whiteflies and is a common plant pathogen.
Jatobal virus
An orthobunyavirus identified in mosquitoes in the Amazon region of Brazil. Its specific role as a pathogen for humans or other vertebrates is currently not well-understood.
Jatropha leaf curl Gujarat virus
A begomovirus causing severe leaf curl disease in Jatropha plants in Gujarat, India. This plant-specific virus is transmitted by whiteflies and significantly impacts crop health.
Jatropha mosaic virus
A begomovirus that infects Jatropha plants, causing characteristic mosaic symptoms on leaves and impacting plant growth. It is transmitted by whiteflies, a common vector for plant viruses.
Jatropha yellow mosaic virus
Another begomovirus affecting Jatropha plants, specifically causing yellow mosaic disease. These plant viruses are transmitted by whiteflies and are not known to affect human health.
Jaunpur virus
An ephemerovirus first isolated from cattle in India, causing ephemeral fever-like symptoms. It is transmitted by biting midges and primarily affects livestock, not humans.
JC polyomavirus
A common polyomavirus, usually asymptomatic in healthy individuals. In immunocompromised patients, it can reactivate to cause Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy, a fatal brain disease.
Jeju anthurium mottle virus
A plant virus identified in anthurium plants on Jeju Island, South Korea, causing mottling symptoms. It is a plant pathogen and does not affect humans or animals.
Jeju betanecrovirus
A newly identified virus from marine invertebrates on Jeju Island, South Korea. Its classification is novel, and its impact on human or animal health is currently unknown.
Jeju sediment-associated cress-like virus
An unclassified virus found in sediment on Jeju Island, South Korea. This environmental isolate’s host and pathogenic potential are still being investigated, with no known human health impact.
Jeju thrips-vectored ophiovirus
An ophiovirus, a type of plant virus, found on Jeju Island and transmitted by thrips. It causes diseases in various plants and poses no threat to human health.
Jembrana disease virus
A deltaretrovirus causing a highly fatal acute disease in Bali cattle, particularly prevalent in Indonesia. It causes severe systemic illness and is a significant livestock pathogen.
Jericho virus
A novel morbillivirus discovered in bats in Israel, named after Jericho. While related to human pathogens like measles, its specific threat to humans remains under investigation.
Jian san dinornavirus
A dinornavirus, a relatively new family of viruses, identified in insects from China. These viruses primarily infect invertebrates and are not known to impact human health.
Jian virus
A novel virus isolated from mosquitoes in China. Its classification is still being refined, and its pathogenic potential for humans or animals is currently unknown.
Jianchuan fly virus 1
An unclassified virus identified in flies from China. It is an insect virus with no known implications for human health, belonging to the diverse virome of insects.
Jiangjin orbivirus
An orbivirus isolated from ticks in China. Many orbiviruses are arthropod-borne, affecting animals, but this specific virus’s impact on human or animal health is uncharacterized.
Jiangsu alphamesonivirus 1
An alphamesonivirus identified in insects from Jiangsu, China. Viruses in this family primarily infect arthropods and are not associated with human diseases.
Jiangsu sediment picornavirus 1
A picornavirus identified in sediment from Jiangsu, China. While picornaviruses can infect humans, this environmental isolate’s pathogenicity and host range are unknown.
Jiangsu spider virus 1
An unclassified virus discovered in spiders from Jiangsu, China. It contributes to the known viral diversity in arthropods but has no known relevance to human health.
Jiangsu tarn virus
A novel virus found in insects from Jiangsu, China. This unclassified virus expands the known insect virome and has no documented impact on human health.
Jiangsu wasp virus
An unclassified virus isolated from wasps in Jiangsu, China. Like many insect-specific viruses, it is not known to cross-infect humans or cause human disease.
Jiangxia mosquito virus
A virus identified in mosquitoes in Jiangxia, China. Its classification is still under review, and it is considered an insect-specific virus with no known human health implications.
Jiaojiang unclassified chuvirus 1
An unclassified chuvirus isolated from insects in Jiaojiang, China. Chuviruses are a diverse group often found in arthropods, and this specific virus is not known to affect humans.
Jiaomu-JFM virus
A virus isolated from fungi, indicating it is a mycovirus. Mycoviruses infect fungi and are not known to cause disease in humans, playing roles in fungal biology.
Jibome virus
A newly identified virus from ticks in China. Its family and pathogenicity are still under investigation, and it is not currently known to cause human disease.
Jilong virus
A novel virus discovered in ticks in China. While some vesiculoviruses can infect mammals, the Jilong virus’s specific host range and pathogenicity for humans are not established.
Jilin heyang virus
An ephemerovirus identified in China, primarily affecting cattle. It is transmitted by biting midges, similar to other viruses in its family, and is not a human pathogen.
Jilin virus
A novel orbivirus isolated from ticks in Jilin, China. While orbiviruses can cause disease in animals, this specific virus’s impact on human or animal health is uncharacterized.
Jimbu virus
A virus identified in mosquitoes in the Jimbu region, likely in Indonesia or Malaysia. Its classification and potential as a pathogen are still under investigation.
Jinghong virus
A highly diverse virus group found in bats and mosquitoes across China. Its unique genetic structure suggests a novel viral family, with no known human pathogenicity.
Jingmen mivirus 1
A Jingmenvirus found in ticks, mosquitoes, and some human samples. It’s an emerging arbovirus, with potential to cause febrile illness in humans, needing further research.
Jingmen tick virus
A Jingmenvirus, closely related to Jingmen mivirus 1, found in ticks and associated with human febrile illness. It represents a potential emerging tick-borne pathogen.
Jinhua unclassified rhabdovirus 1
An unclassified rhabdovirus discovered in arthropods from Jinhua, China. Rhabdoviruses are diverse, but this specific one is not known to affect humans.
Jining unclassified tombus-like virus 1
An unclassified tombus-like virus found in insects from Jining, China. Tombusviruses primarily infect plants, and this insect-derived variant is not known to affect humans.
Jiqui virus
A virus isolated from mosquitoes in the Amazon region, Brazil. Its pathogenicity for humans or other vertebrates has not been established, but it contributes to local viral diversity.
Jirdpox virus
An orthopoxvirus that causes disease in jirds, a type of rodent. While related to smallpox, it is specific to jirds and is not known to infect humans.
Joinville virus
A plant virus identified in Brazil, possibly infecting plants. Like other plant viruses, it is not known to affect human health and causes symptoms in its plant hosts.
Johnsongrass mosaic virus
A potyvirus that causes mosaic disease in Johnsongrass and economically important cereal crops like maize and sorghum. It is a significant plant pathogen, transmitted by aphids.
Johnston Atoll virus
An alphavirus identified from seabirds and ticks on Johnston Atoll. While some alphaviruses cause human disease, this one is not known to be pathogenic for humans.
Johor virus
A novel henipavirus discovered in bats in Malaysia. While related to Hendra and Nipah viruses, its specific pathogenicity and zoonotic potential are under investigation.
Jonquil mild mosaic virus
A potyvirus that infects jonquils and other Narcissus plants, causing mild mosaic symptoms. It is a plant pathogen transmitted by aphids and does not affect humans.
Juan Dia virus
A thogotovirus isolated from ticks in China. While some thogotoviruses can cause human febrile illness, this specific virus’s pathogenicity is currently uncharacterized.
Jugra virus
A vesiculovirus isolated from ticks in Malaysia. While other vesiculoviruses can cause disease in animals and humans (e.g., VSV), the Jugra virus is not known to be a human pathogen.
Jujuy virus
An orthobunyavirus found in South America, causing febrile illness in humans. It is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes and is part of a complex of viruses.
Juncopox virus
An avipoxvirus that infects juncos, a type of bird, causing pox-like lesions. It is specific to avian hosts and does not infect humans.
Jundiaquara virus
An orthobunyavirus identified in mosquitoes in Brazil. Its pathogenicity for humans or other vertebrates is currently not well-understood, but it’s part of the local arbovirus diversity.
Junin virus
The mammarenavirus responsible for Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever (AHF), a severe and often fatal disease in humans. It is transmitted primarily from rodents and is endemic to Argentina.
Jurona virus
An orthobunyavirus identified in mosquitoes in the Amazon region. Its pathogenic potential for humans or animals is not yet established, but it is part of South American viral ecology.
Jussiaea mosaic virus
A plant virus suspected to be a begomovirus, causing mosaic disease in Jussiaea aquatic plants. Like other plant viruses, it does not affect humans.
Jutiapa virus
A mammarenavirus identified in rodents in Guatemala. While related to human pathogenic arenaviruses, Jutiapa virus is not currently known to cause human disease.