Talk:Bovine malignant catarrhal fever

Which genus?
There is a conflict in the information provided in this Wikipedia article and the Wikispecies page on "Macavirus." In this article the genus is listed as "Rhadinovirus" for the 2 species which are the agent of Bovine malignant catarrhal fever: Alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 and Ovine Herpes Virus 2. However, the Wikispecies page on the genus Macavirus claims both of these species are included within that genus.

The Wikipedia page on the subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae list Macavirus and Rhadinovirus as distinct genera. The "Introduction" to that page also describes Macavirus as one of two "More recently defined genera." From this information I speculate that the two viral species under discussion once belonged to the genus Rhadinovirus, but since that time some of the species of Rhadinovirus, including these 2 species, have been reassigned to the genus of Macavirus. If my speculation is correct, then this page needs to be updated to reflect this taxonomic development.

I am reluctant to make the suggested edit until this speculation is confirmed. Any information on this topic would be appreciated. (I am a layman and not a professional biologist.)Ray Glock-Grueneich (talk) 23:09, 20 January 2014 (UTC)Ray Glock-Grueneich


 * I have since confirmed these 2 species to be within the Macavirus genus, according to the 2011 ICTV listing. I edited the article to so reflect.Ray Glock-Grueneich (talk) 00:23, 21 January 2014 (UTC)

Assessment comment
Substituted at 10:07, 29 April 2016 (UTC)