Walsh & Hoyt: Bunyaviridae

The 250 or more viruses in the family Bunyaviridae are spherical, membrane-bound structures that measure 90100 nm in diameter and have hexagonally arranged surface projections. Because these viruses are transmitted to humans by a variety of arthropods, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and flies, they are often considered together with viruses in the families Togaviridae and Flaviviridae as arboviruses (i.e., arthropod-borne). The bunyaviruses are separated into five genera: (a) Bunyavirus, (b) Phlebovirus, (c) Nairovirus, (d) Uukuvirus, and (e) Hantavirus. From a neuro-ophthalmologic perspective, the only viruses of importance are species belonging to the Bunyavirus and Phlebovirus genera.