Corona viruses were first isolated from patients at the Common Cold Unit, Salisbury, U.K. and medical students with common colds in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Corona viruses have been implcated in gastroenteritis in infants.
Animal Corona viruses cause diseases of economic importance in domestic animals.
Human Corona viruses are difficult to culture therefore they are poorly characterised.
The family Coronaviridae are a monogeneric group of RNA containing viruses.
The name of the group was adopted to describe the characteristic fringe of crown-like projections seen around the viruses. [In Latin - "corona" means "crown"].
Ten species of Corona viruses are recognised:
1. Human Corona Virus (HCV)
2. Murine Hepatitis Virus (MHV)
3. Bovine Corona Virus (BCV)
4. Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus of Pigs (TGEV)
5. Haemagglutination Encephalomyelitis Virus of Pigs (HEV)
6. Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus (FIPV)
7. Rat Corona Virus (RCV)
8. Sialodacryoadenitis Virus of Rats (SDAV)
9. Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) and
10. Canine Corona Virus (CCV)
