Viruses that start with the letter Q number thirteen in total, covering a wide range of hosts including bacteria, birds, insects, plants, and marsupials. Many of these viruses are RNA viruses, and several are transmitted by arthropods like ticks and mosquitoes, highlighting the important role of vectors in their spread. While a few affect humans, most impact animals or plants, showing the diversity within this small but significant group.
Explore the complete list below to understand each virus’s classification, hosts, symptoms, transmission methods, and key details.
Virus Name This column lists the official name of each virus, helping you identify each unique pathogen starting with Q.
Classification Here, viruses are grouped by their family or genus and whether they are RNA or DNA viruses. This gives insight into their biology and related viruses.
Affects Humans? This column clarifies whether the virus infects humans or if it targets other species such as animals, plants, or bacteria.
Symptoms Learn the common signs and illnesses caused by each virus, aiding in recognizing infections or impacts on hosts.
Transmission Method Understand how each virus spreads—whether by direct contact, insect vectors, environmental exposure, or other means.
Descripción This provides a brief but detailed description, including geographic origin, typical hosts, and any special features or research importance for each virus.
Viruses that start with Q
| Viruses | Classification | Affects humans? | Symptoms | Transmission method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacteriophage Qβ | Levivirus (RNA virus) | No (infects bacteria) | Lytic infection of bacteria | Between bacteria, environmental |
| Qalyub virus | Nairoviridae (RNA virus) | Yes | Febrile illness, flu-like symptoms | Tick-borne (e.g., *Hyalomma* ticks) |
| Quail bronchitis virus | Aviadenovirus (DNA virus) | No (affects poultry) | Respiratory distress, coughing, nasal discharge, reduced egg production | Direct contact, aerosols, contaminated feed/water |
| Quail pea mosaic virus | Comovirus (RNA virus) | No (affects plants) | Mosaic patterns, mottling, distortion, stunting in plants | Sap-transmissible, by beetles |
| Quailpox virus | Avipoxvirus (DNA virus) | No (affects birds) | Cutaneous lesions (nodules, scabs) on unfeathered areas; diphtheritic lesions | Direct contact, mechanical vectors (e.g., mosquitoes), aerosols |
| Quaranfil virus | Quaranjavirus (RNA virus) | Yes | Febrile illness, flu-like symptoms | Tick-borne (e.g., *Argas* ticks) |
| Queensland fruit fly virus | Dicistroviridae (RNA virus) | No (affects insects) | Reduced longevity, sterility, paralysis, high mortality in fruit flies | Oral infection, possibly vertical |
| Quercus fleck virus | Foveavirus (RNA virus) | No (affects plants) | Irregular spots or flecks on oak leaves, premature defoliation | Unknown, possibly vectors like mites or fungi, or via sap |
| Quillaja virus Y | Potyvirus (RNA virus) | No (affects plants) | Mosaic patterns, mottling, distortion, stunting in *Quillaja saponaria* | Aphid-borne (non-persistent), sap-transmissible |
| Quince sooty ringspot virus | Unassigned (RNA virus) | No (affects plants) | Sooty-like ringspots on quince fruit and leaves, fruit deformation | Unknown, possibly grafting, mechanical, or soil |
| Quinoa mild mosaic virus | Tymovirus (RNA virus) | No (affects plants) | Mild mosaic patterns, mottling, slight stunting in quinoa plants | Sap-transmissible, possibly by insects or nematodes |
| Quinoa mosaic virus | Tymovirus (RNA virus) | No (affects plants) | Distinct mosaic patterns, mottling, distortion, stunting, reduced seed production | Sap-transmissible, possibly by insects (e.g., beetles) or nematodes |
| Quokkapox virus | Orthopoxvirus (DNA virus) | No (affects marsupials) | Skin lesions, nodules, and scabs on quokkas | Direct contact, possibly arthropod vectors (e.g., mosquitoes) |
Descriptions
Bacteriophage Qβ
A well-studied RNA bacteriophage that infects *Escherichia coli*. It was one of the first RNA viruses used to study RNA replication and gene expression, making it important in molecular biology research. It helps us understand basic viral mechanisms.
Qalyub virus
A tick-borne virus found in Egypt and other parts of Africa and Asia. It’s known to cause febrile illness in humans, presenting with flu-like symptoms. It circulates in rodents and bats, with ticks acting as vectors for transmission to humans and other animals.
Quail bronchitis virus
A highly contagious virus primarily affecting quails and other poultry, causing acute respiratory disease. Symptoms include coughing, nasal discharge, and reduced egg production, leading to significant economic losses in the poultry industry. It spreads rapidly among birds.
Quail pea mosaic virus
A plant virus that infects legumes, including quail pea. It causes characteristic mosaic patterns, mottling, and distortion on leaves, leading to stunted plant growth and reduced crop yields. Transmission occurs through sap or by specific insect vectors like beetles.
Quailpox virus
An avian poxvirus causing disease in quails and other birds. It leads to characteristic wart-like lesions or scabs on unfeathered skin, particularly around the head and legs. While rarely fatal, it can impact bird health and is primarily transmitted via direct contact or mosquitoes.
Quaranfil virus
An arbovirus primarily transmitted by ticks, notably *Argas* ticks found in seabird colonies. It can cause acute febrile illness in humans, with symptoms similar to the flu. The virus naturally circulates between ticks and birds, posing a potential health risk in affected regions.
Queensland fruit fly virus
A virus that infects the Queensland fruit fly (*Bactrocera tryoni*), a major agricultural pest. It causes symptoms like reduced lifespan, sterility, and paralysis in the flies, leading to high mortality rates. This virus is being studied for its potential as a biological control agent.
Quercus fleck virus
A plant virus identified in oak trees (*Quercus* species). It causes distinctive irregular spots or flecks on the leaves, which can sometimes lead to premature defoliation. The exact mode of transmission for Quercus fleck virus is currently unknown, but research continues.
Quillaja virus Y
A plant virus that infects the *Quillaja saponaria* tree, known for producing saponin extracts. It causes mosaic symptoms, mottling, and distortion on leaves, potentially impacting the health and yield of these economically important trees. It is primarily transmitted by aphids.
Quince sooty ringspot virus
A plant virus affecting quince trees, characterized by distinctive sooty-like ringspots on both the fruit and leaves. These symptoms can impact the appearance and marketability of quince fruit. The specific transmission method for this virus is not yet fully understood.
Quinoa mild mosaic virus
A plant virus that infects quinoa, a popular pseudocereal. It causes mild mosaic patterns and mottling on the leaves, along with slight stunting of the plant. While generally less severe than other mosaic viruses, it can still impact quinoa yield and quality.
Quinoa mosaic virus
A plant virus affecting quinoa plants, causing more pronounced mosaic patterns, leaf distortion, and stunting compared to the “mild” variant. It can significantly reduce seed production, posing a challenge for quinoa cultivation. It spreads through sap and potentially by insect vectors.
Quokkapox virus
An orthopoxvirus primarily found in quokkas, small marsupials native to Australia. It causes cutaneous lesions, nodules, and scabs on the skin of infected animals. While not known to infect humans, it is a significant health concern for quokka populations, particularly juveniles.