ABSTRACT
Toroviruses are a distinct group of positive single-stranded RNA viruses belonging to the genus Torovirus, family Coronaviridae. Of the four torovirus species recognized to date, equine torovirus (EToV), bovine torovirus (BToV), and porcine torovirus (PToV) are associated with enteric infections and diarrhea in horses, cattle, and pigs, respectively, while human torovirus (HToV) is implicated in nosocomial gastroenteritis, especially in individuals with suppressed immune functions. Although toroviruses generally cause subclinical infection or mild diarrheal disease in adults, they can be deadly when naïve young animals and children are involved. Given their widespread distribution and their ability to cross species boundary, toroviruses certainly deserve more attention in the areas of rapid diagnostic methodologies and effective control measures than they are currently receiving.
