Viruses that start with the letter “L” cover a wide range of types from harmless yeast viruses to serious human pathogens. This complete list includes 54 scientifically recognized viruses from all over the world. Many of these viruses are named after places or hosts and show a striking diversity in their effects—some only infect plants, animals, or insects, while others can cause severe diseases in humans. Notably, several “L” viruses are linked to hemorrhagic fevers, viral encephalitis, and important agricultural impacts.
Explore the detailed table below to get a clear overview of these viruses and their key characteristics.
Virus Name This column lists the official names of the viruses beginning with “L.” Knowing the exact virus name helps in identifying and researching them accurately.
Family This classification shows the virus family to which each virus belongs. Virus families group viruses with similar genetic and structural features.
Primary Hosts This part indicates whether the virus affects humans, animals, plants, or other organisms. Understanding the host is essential to assess the virus’s relevance and impact.
Associated Illness/Symptoms Here you find a summary of the main symptoms or diseases each virus causes. This helps quickly identify viruses that pose a health risk or cause notable effects.
Transmission Method This explains how each virus spreads to its host, such as through vectors like mosquitoes or ticks, direct contact, airborne routes, or other specific ways.
Descripción A brief description offers additional context about the virus, including its behavior, significance, and scientific notes, allowing a better grasp of its nature and importance.
Viruses that start with L
| Viruses | classification | affects humans? | symptoms | transmission method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L-A virus | Totiviridae | No | Asymptomatic in yeast, often persistent infection | Vertical (via spores or budding) |
| La Crosse virus | Peribunyaviridae | Yes | Fever, headache, nausea, encephalitis (severe cases) | Mosquito (Aedes spp.) |
| La Joya virus | Nairoviridae | Yes | Febrile illness, potentially hemorrhagic fever | Unknown, possibly tick-borne or rodent-associated |
| Laguna Negra virus | Arenaviridae | Yes | Hemorrhagic fever, fever, myalgia, malaise | Rodent (aerosolized excreta of Calomys laucha) |
| Lake Victoria marburgvirus | Filoviridae | Yes | Severe hemorrhagic fever, organ failure, high mortality | Direct contact with infected fluids, bats are natural hosts |
| Lambda phage | Siphoviridae | No | Lytic or lysogenic cycle in bacteria | Horizontal (phage infection), Vertical (replication with host) |
| Lambdapapillomavirus 1 | Papillomaviridae | Yes | Warts, skin lesions, potential for cancer (HPV-related) | Direct contact, skin-to-skin (sexual contact) |
| Langat virus | Flaviviridae | Yes | Febrile illness, encephalitis (rare) | Tick-borne |
| Lassa virus | Arenaviridae | Yes | Lassa fever: hemorrhagic fever, organ damage, deafness | Rodent (aerosolized excreta of Mastomys natalensis), direct contact |
| Lates calcarifer birnavirus | Birnaviridae | No | Gill lesions, mortality in farmed barramundi (fish) | Waterborne, direct contact (fish to fish) |
| Lates calcarifer herpesvirus | Alloherpesviridae | No | Skin lesions, mortality in farmed barramundi (fish) | Waterborne, direct contact (fish to fish) |
| Latino mammarenavirus | Arenaviridae | Yes | Hemorrhagic fever | Rodent (aerosolized excreta) |
| Le Dantec virus | Phenuiviridae | Yes | Fever, headache, body aches (febrile illness) | Sandfly bite |
| Leaky-beak virus | Orthoreovirus | No | Beak and feather deformities, mortality in birds | Fecal-oral, direct contact |
| Leanyer virus | Reoviridae | Yes | Mild febrile illness, headache, rash | Mosquito (Culex annulirostris) |
| Lee virus | Arenaviridae | Yes | Hemorrhagic fever, similar to other mammarenaviruses | Rodent (aerosolized excreta) |
| Leek yellow stripe virus | Potyviridae | No | Yellow stripes, mosaic patterns on leaves of leek and onion | Aphids (non-persistent) |
| Legless lizard-associated virus 1 | Arenaviridae | No | Unknown, likely asymptomatic in host | Unknown, possibly contact or environmental |
| Lelystad virus | Arteriviridae | No | Reproductive and respiratory issues in pigs (PRRS) | Direct contact, airborne (pig to pig) |
| Leon virus | Picornaviridae | Yes | Paralysis, fever, muscle weakness (Poliomyelitis) | Fecal-oral |
| Leopard danio picornavirus | Picornaviridae | No | Unknown, likely asymptomatic or mild disease in fish | Waterborne, direct contact (fish to fish) |
| Leopard frog virus 3 | Iridoviridae | No | Edema, hemorrhages, organ damage, mortality in amphibians | Waterborne, direct contact |
| Lesser housefly virus | Dicistroviridae | No | Paralysis, mortality in flies | Oral (ingestion by larvae), vertical |
| Lettuce big-vein associated virus | Ophioviridae | No | Vein enlargement, stunting, wilting in lettuce | Olpidium brassicae (fungus vector in soil) |
| Lettuce infectious yellows virus | Closteroviridae | No | Yellowing, stunting, brittleness in lettuce | Whiteflies |
| Lettuce mosaic virus | Potyviridae | No | Mosaic patterns, stunting, necrosis in lettuce | Aphids (non-persistent) |
| Lettuce necrotic yellows virus | Rhabdoviridae | No | Necrotic lesions, yellowing, stunting in lettuce | Aphids (persistent) |
| Lilac chlorotic leafspot virus | Betaflexiviridae | No | Chlorotic spots, leaf distortion on lilac and other plants | Grafting, mechanical, possibly nematodes |
| Lilac ring mottle virus | Bromoviridae | No | Ring spots, leaf distortion | Unknown, possibly mechanical or vectors |
| Lily mottle virus | Potyviridae | No | Mottle, mosaic patterns on leaves, stunting in lilies | Aphids (non-persistent) |
| Lily symptomless virus | Alphaflexiviridae | No | Often asymptomatic, can cause mild mosaic in lilies | Aphids (non-persistent) |
| Limonium flower distortion virus | Tospoviridae | No | Flower distortion, stunting in Limonium plants | Thrips |
| Lincolnshire potato virus | Unknown | No | Unspecified potato disease symptoms | Unknown, likely aphids or mechanical |
| Little cherry virus 1 | Closteroviridae | No | Small, pale, poor-flavored cherries; red leaves | Mealybugs, grafting |
| Little cherry virus 2 | Closteroviridae | No | Small, pale, poor-flavored cherries; red leaves | Mealybugs, grafting |
| Little penguin circovirus | Circoviridae | No | Feather loss, immunosuppression, mortality in penguins | Fecal-oral, feather dust |
| Lloviu virus | Filoviridae | Yes | Potentially hemorrhagic fever, similar to Marburg/Ebola | Unknown, possibly bats to humans (direct contact with fluids/excreta) |
| Lokern virus | Peribunyaviridae | Rarely | Mild fever, headache (humans), lameness in horses | Mosquitoes |
| Lolium latent virus | Tombusviridae | No | Asymptomatic or mild symptoms in grass | Seed, mechanical |
| London virus | Picornaviridae | Yes | Paralysis, fever, muscle weakness (Poliomyelitis) or mild respiratory/GI illness (Parechovirus) | Fecal-oral |
| Long-beaked common dolphin picornavirus | Picornaviridae | No | Unknown, likely asymptomatic or mild disease in dolphins | Fecal-oral (waterborne) |
| Longan witches broom-associated virus | Phytoreoviridae | No | Witches’ broom, stunting in longan trees | Psyllids (insects) |
| Lord Howe Island virus | Iflaviridae | No | No known symptoms (infects insects, crickets) | Fecal-oral, vertical (in insects) |
| Louping ill virus | Flaviviridae | Yes | Febrile illness, encephalitis, neurological signs | Tick-borne |
| Louse-borne hantavirus | Hantaviridae | Yes | Fever, headaches, renal failure, hemorrhagic symptoms | Rodent excreta (aerosol); named suggests potential louse vector |
| Lucerne Australian latent virus | Tombusviridae | No | Asymptomatic or mild stunting in legumes | Seed, mechanical |
| Lucerne transient streak virus | Sobemoviridae | No | Leaf streak, mottling, stunting | Seed, pollen, mechanical |
| Lucké frog herpesvirus | Alloherpesviridae | No | Kidney tumors in frogs | Waterborne, direct contact (frog to frog) |
| Lujo virus | Arenaviridae | Yes | Severe hemorrhagic fever, organ damage, high mortality | Rodent (aerosolized excreta), human-to-human (direct contact with fluids) |
| Lumpy skin disease virus | Poxviridae | No | Skin nodules, fever, lameness in cattle | Insect vectors (flies, mosquitoes), direct contact |
| Lupine leaf curl virus | Geminiviridae | No | Leaf curling, stunting, yellowing in lupine plants | Whiteflies |
| Lutzomyia-whitmani-associated virus 1 | Phenuiviridae | Yes | Fever, headache, myalgia (sandfly fever symptoms) | Sandfly bite |
| Lymphocystis disease virus 1 | Iridoviridae | No | Skin lesions, wart-like growths on fish | Waterborne, direct contact (fish to fish) |
| Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus | Arenaviridae | Yes | Febrile illness, meningitis, encephalitis | Rodent (aerosolized excreta, direct contact) |
Descriptions
L-A virus
The L-A virus is a double-stranded RNA virus that infects the yeast *Saccharomyces cerevisiae*. It’s known for being asymptomatic in its host, often establishing a persistent infection within the yeast cells. This virus is a fascinating example of a non-pathogenic viral infection in a eukaryotic organism.
La Crosse virus
La Crosse virus is an arbovirus transmitted by mosquitoes, primarily found in the Midwestern and Eastern United States. It causes La Crosse encephalitis, particularly in children, leading to fever, headache, and in severe cases, seizures and neurological complications. The virus is maintained in a cycle involving mosquitoes and small mammals.
La Joya virus
La Joya virus is a relatively less-studied virus classified within the Nairoviridae family. It has been isolated from human cases presenting with febrile illnesses. Its exact transmission methods and full clinical spectrum are still under investigation, but it is considered a potential cause of hemorrhagic fever.
Laguna Negra virus
Laguna Negra virus is a New World mammarenavirus, closely related to other South American hemorrhagic fever viruses. It is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with the excreta of infected rodents. The virus can cause a severe febrile illness characterized by hemorrhagic manifestations.
Lake Victoria marburgvirus
Lake Victoria marburgvirus is a highly virulent filovirus, a strain of Marburg virus, known for causing severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. The virus is often associated with exposure to bats or direct contact with body fluids of infected individuals. It causes widespread organ damage and has a very high fatality rate.
Lambda phage
Lambda phage is a well-studied bacteriophage, a virus that infects bacteria, specifically *Escherichia coli*. It can undergo either a lytic cycle, destroying the host cell, or a lysogenic cycle, integrating its DNA into the host genome. It is a fundamental tool in molecular biology research.
Lambdapapillomavirus 1
Lambdapapillomavirus 1 is a type of human papillomavirus (HPV). Like other HPVs, it can cause benign skin lesions, such as warts, and some strains are associated with a higher risk of certain cancers, particularly cervical cancer. Transmission occurs through direct skin-to-skin contact.
Langat virus
Langat virus is a tick-borne flavivirus, part of the tick-borne encephalitis virus complex. While it rarely causes severe disease in humans, it can lead to febrile illness and, in rare cases, encephalitis. It is primarily found in tropical regions.
Lassa virus
Lassa virus is an Old World mammarenavirus endemic to West Africa, causing Lassa fever, a severe viral hemorrhagic fever. Humans become infected through contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or feces, or direct contact with infected persons. It can cause significant morbidity and mortality.
Lates calcarifer birnavirus
Lates calcarifer birnavirus is a pathogen affecting farmed barramundi, a popular food fish. It causes severe gill lesions and can lead to significant mortality in aquaculture settings, impacting fish farming industries.
Lates calcarifer herpesvirus
Lates calcarifer herpesvirus is another viral pathogen affecting barramundi. It causes characteristic skin lesions and can lead to high mortality rates in aquaculture, posing a challenge to sustainable fish farming.
Latino mammarenavirus
Latino mammarenavirus is a New World mammarenavirus identified in South America. Like other arenaviruses, it is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with rodent excreta and can cause a form of hemorrhagic fever.
Le Dantec virus
Le Dantec virus is a phlebovirus transmitted by sandflies, primarily found in Africa. It causes a febrile illness in humans, characterized by symptoms such as fever, headache, and generalized body aches, often mimicking influenza.
Leaky-beak virus
Leaky-beak virus, a type of avian orthoreovirus, causes a disease in poultry characterized by beak and feather deformities. It can lead to significant economic losses in the poultry industry due to mortality and reduced productivity.
Leanyer virus
Leanyer virus is an orbivirus discovered in Australia. It can infect humans, typically causing a mild febrile illness characterized by fever, headache, and sometimes a rash. It is transmitted by mosquitoes.
Lee virus
Lee virus is a mammarenavirus, sharing characteristics with other viruses in its family known to cause hemorrhagic fevers. It is thought to be transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodent excreta.
Leek yellow stripe virus
Leek yellow stripe virus is a plant virus that infects leeks, onions, and other alliums. It causes characteristic yellow stripes and mosaic patterns on the leaves, leading to reduced crop yield and quality. It is transmitted by aphids.
Legless lizard-associated virus 1
Legless lizard-associated virus 1 is a reptarenavirus found in legless lizards. Its impact on the host is largely unknown, but it is presumed to be asymptomatic. Research is ongoing to understand its ecological role and potential implications.
Lelystad virus
Lelystad virus is the causative agent of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), a devastating disease in pigs. It causes reproductive failure in sows and respiratory disease in young pigs, leading to significant economic losses for the pork industry.
Leon virus
Leon virus refers to the Leon strain of poliovirus type 3, a significant cause of poliomyelitis. This neurotropic virus attacks the nervous system, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and sometimes death. Global vaccination efforts have greatly reduced its incidence.
Leopard danio picornavirus
Leopard danio picornavirus is a virus identified in leopard danio fish. Its pathogenicity and specific symptoms are not well-documented, but like many picornaviruses, it likely causes mild or asymptomatic infections in its fish host.
Leopard frog virus 3
Leopard frog virus 3 is a ranavirus that causes a severe, often fatal disease in amphibians, including frogs and salamanders. It leads to symptoms like edema, hemorrhages, and organ necrosis, contributing to amphibian population declines globally.
Lesser housefly virus
Lesser housefly virus infects lesser houseflies, causing paralysis and mortality, particularly in larval stages. This virus helps in regulating housefly populations and is studied for its potential as a biopesticide against insect pests.
Lettuce big-vein associated virus
Lettuce big-vein associated virus causes a disease in lettuce characterized by distinct vein enlargement, stunting, and wilting of plants. It is transmitted by the soil-borne fungus *Olpidium brassicae*, posing a challenge for lettuce cultivation.
Lettuce infectious yellows virus
Lettuce infectious yellows virus is a plant virus causing significant damage to lettuce crops and other vegetables. It induces severe yellowing, stunting, and a brittle texture in infected leaves, leading to reduced yield and quality. It is efficiently transmitted by whiteflies.
Lettuce mosaic virus
Lettuce mosaic virus is a common and economically important plant virus affecting lettuce and other leafy greens. It causes mosaic patterns, yellowing, stunting, and leaf necrosis, resulting in yield losses. Aphids rapidly spread the virus from plant to plant.
Lettuce necrotic yellows virus
Lettuce necrotic yellows virus causes a serious disease in lettuce, leading to necrotic lesions, pronounced yellowing, and severe stunting of the plants. It is transmitted by aphids in a persistent manner, meaning the aphid remains infectious for a long period.
Lilac chlorotic leafspot virus
Lilac chlorotic leafspot virus causes distinct chlorotic spots and distortion on the leaves of lilac and other ornamental plants. While not typically fatal, it can affect the aesthetic value of infected plants. It spreads through grafting and mechanical means.
Lilac ring mottle virus
Lilac ring mottle virus induces ring-shaped spots and mottling patterns on the leaves of lilac plants. The specific transmission method is not fully elucidated but may involve mechanical transfer or insect vectors.
Lily mottle virus
Lily mottle virus is a common pathogen affecting lily plants. It causes characteristic mottle and mosaic patterns on the leaves, leading to aesthetic damage and sometimes stunting of the plant. It is primarily transmitted by aphids.
Lily symptomless virus
Lily symptomless virus, as its name suggests, often causes no visible symptoms in lilies, but it can lead to a mild mosaic pattern. It is widespread in lily populations and can co-infect with other viruses, exacerbating symptoms. It spreads via aphids.
Limonium flower distortion virus
Limonium flower distortion virus causes severe distortion and malformation of flowers, along with stunting, in Limonium (sea lavender) plants. This virus is transmitted by thrips, small insects that feed on plant sap.
Lincolnshire potato virus
Lincolnshire potato virus is a less-defined plant virus associated with potato diseases. Specific symptoms and transmission methods are not widely documented, but it is presumed to cause typical potato virus symptoms such as mosaic and stunting, likely spread by aphids.
Little cherry virus 1
Little cherry virus 1 is a significant pathogen of cherry trees, causing affected cherries to remain small, pale, and have poor flavor. Leaves on infected branches often turn red prematurely. It is transmitted by mealybugs and through grafting.
Little cherry virus 2
Little cherry virus 2 is another serious virus affecting cherry trees, similar to Little cherry virus 1. It also leads to small, discolored, and poor-quality fruit, along with premature reddening of leaves. Both viruses are spread by mealybugs and propagation.
Little penguin circovirus
Little penguin circovirus infects little penguins (Eudyptula minor), causing feather loss, beak deformities, and immunosuppression, which can lead to increased susceptibility to other diseases and mortality. It spreads through fecal-oral routes and contaminated feather dust.
Lloviu virus
Lloviu virus is a filovirus, belonging to the same family as Ebola and Marburg viruses. Discovered in bats, its potential to cause disease in humans is concerning, though human cases haven’t been confirmed. It’s studied for its hemorrhagic fever potential.
Lokern virus
Lokern virus is an orthobunyavirus transmitted by mosquitoes. While primarily affecting horses, causing lameness, it has been isolated from humans, usually leading to mild febrile illness with symptoms like fever and headache. Severe human cases are rare.
Lolium latent virus
Lolium latent virus is a plant virus found in various grasses, including rye-grass (*Lolium* species). It typically causes asymptomatic infections or very mild symptoms, often going unnoticed. It can be transmitted through seeds and mechanical contact.
London virus
London virus can refer to a strain of Poliovirus type 3 or a human parechovirus strain. Poliovirus causes paralysis, while parechoviruses typically cause mild respiratory or gastrointestinal illness, though more severe cases can occur. Both are transmitted via the fecal-oral route.
Long-beaked common dolphin picornavirus
This picornavirus infects long-beaked common dolphins. Its specific impact on the dolphins is not fully understood, but like many picornaviruses in animals, it likely causes asymptomatic infections or mild gastrointestinal or respiratory diseases. It spreads via water contaminated with feces.
Longan witches broom-associated virus
Longan witches broom-associated virus causes “witches’ broom” disease in longan trees, characterized by abnormal bushy growth, stunting, and reduced fruit production. This severe disease is transmitted by psyllid insects, impacting longan fruit cultivation.
Lord Howe Island virus
Lord Howe Island virus infects crickets found on Lord Howe Island. It is notable for being one of the first viruses discovered to have a bicistronic genome structure. It causes no known disease in humans or other animals, only in its insect host.
Louping ill virus
Louping ill virus is a tick-borne flavivirus primarily affecting sheep, causing a neurological disease. It can also infect humans, leading to a febrile illness with symptoms like fever, muscle pain, and in some cases, meningoencephalitis with neurological signs.
Louse-borne hantavirus
Louse-borne hantavirus is a hantavirus, typically transmitted through aerosolized rodent excreta. While Hantaviruses cause severe illness in humans, including fever, headaches, and sometimes kidney failure or hemorrhagic symptoms, the “louse-borne” designation for a hantavirus is unusual and may suggest an atypical transmission route or less confirmed vector.
Lucerne Australian latent virus
Lucerne Australian latent virus infects various legume plants, including alfalfa (lucerne). It generally causes asymptomatic infections or very mild stunting, making it difficult to detect without specific tests. It can be transmitted through infected seeds and mechanical contact.
Lucerne transient streak virus
Lucerne transient streak virus affects alfalfa (lucerne), causing symptoms such as leaf streaking, mottling, and stunting. It can be transmitted through seeds and pollen, making it a concern for agricultural propagation and crop health.
Lucké frog herpesvirus
Lucké frog herpesvirus causes renal adenocarcinoma, a type of kidney tumor, in northern leopard frogs. This virus has been a classic model for studying oncogenic viruses and their role in cancer development in vertebrates.
Lujo virus
Lujo virus is a highly virulent mammarenavirus discovered in Southern Africa. It causes a severe hemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates, similar to Lassa fever. Transmission occurs through contact with infected rodent excreta and can also spread human-to-human through direct contact with bodily fluids.
Lumpy skin disease virus
Lumpy skin disease virus causes a highly contagious and economically significant disease in cattle. It manifests as characteristic skin nodules, fever, lameness, and reduced milk production, impacting livestock health and agricultural economies. It is transmitted by insect vectors.
Lupine leaf curl virus
Lupine leaf curl virus causes distinctive leaf curling, stunting, and yellowing symptoms in lupine plants. This geminivirus is transmitted by whiteflies, posing a threat to lupine crops and their yields.
Lutzomyia-whitmani-associated virus 1
Lutzomyia-whitmani-associated virus 1 is a phlebovirus transmitted by *Lutzomyia whitmani* sandflies. It can cause sandfly fever in humans, characterized by sudden onset of fever, headache, and muscle aches, typically a non-fatal illness.
Lymphocystis disease virus 1
Lymphocystis disease virus 1 causes a common chronic viral infection in many freshwater and marine fish species. It leads to the formation of large, wart-like growths on the skin and fins, which are benign but affect fish aesthetics and marketability.
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a mammarenavirus primarily carried by common house mice. It can infect humans, causing a range of symptoms from mild febrile illness to severe neurological disease, including meningitis or encephalitis. Transmission is usually through contact with rodent excreta.