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Comparative Aspects of Togaviruses

Institute of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, State University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

INTRODUCTION. In 1970 the Vertebrate Virus Subcommittee of the International Committee on Nomenclature of Viruses proposed the name togavirus (from the latin toga — a cloak) to cover arboviruses having taxonomic characters like those of the serological groups A and B (Andrewes, 1970). The name ‘arbovirus’ should be used in a purely biological sense, i.e. for viruses having a biological cycle in both arthropods and vertebrates; it is endowed with ecological but not with structural significance. During the last few years, a considerable amount of information concerning the structure and multiplication of these agents has been accumulated, confirming that alpha- and flavoviruses, as they are named now (Wildy, 1971), are sufficiently different from other virus groups to justify this classification.

The arthropod-borne members of the togavirus family are relatively small spherical RNA-viruses which are sensitive to treatment with organic solvents or mild detergents. The virion is constructed of a spherical core which is wrapped into an envelope carrying projections on its surface.