Classification of orbiviruses: a need for supergroups of genera

There has been concern that the present nomenclature system for the members of the Reoviridae family, and particularly the Orbivirus genus, does not represent the actual relationships exhibited between the members. In order to follow the conventions established by the International Committee for the Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), it is tentatively proposed that the present Reoviridae genera be upgraded in status to the following sub-families: reovirinae, orbivirinae, Fijivirinae, cypovirinae, rotavirinae, coltivirinae and phytoreovirinae. Below the sub-family level, divisions of genus (equivalent to superserogroup, serocomplex or supergroup), sub-genus (equivalent to serogroup), species (equivalent to serotype or virus), and variant (equivalent to sub-serotype or genotype) could be created. In the orbivirinae this would result in 2 genera of cyanovirus (bluetongue, epizootic hemorrhagic disease, Eubenangee and Palyam sub-genera) and Kemerovovirus (Chenunda, Great Island, Kemerovo and Wad Medani sub-genera) and a number of ungrouped sub-genera (African horsesickness, Changuinola, Corriparta, equine encephalosis, Wallal and Warrego sub-genera and the remaining ungrouped viruses). It is hoped that further biochemical studies shall confirm these groupings at a more fundamental level and eventually a system recognising the double-stranded RNA gene product relationships shall evolve.