Definition of Paramyxovirus

Paramyxovirus: One of a group of RNA viruses that are responsible predominantly for acute respiratory diseases and are usually transmitted in an airborne manner. The paramyxoviruses include the agents of mumps, measles (rubeola), RSV (respiratory syncytial virus, which mainly afflicts children), Newcastle disease, parainfluenza, Sendai virus and Hendra virus. Many of the paramyxoviruses cause disease in animals such as canine distemper and turkey rhinotracheitis.

The genome of paramyxoviruses consists of single-stranded RNA that encodes 6 genes separated from each another by repeated sequences of RNA. The paramyxoviruses replicate, unlike the influenza virus, in the cytoplasm (not in the nucleus) of the host cell. The paramyxoviruses belong to the family Paramyxoviridae.

The word "paramyxovirus" is a compound of "para-" + "-myxo-" + "virus. The "-myxo-" is derived from the Greek "myxa" meaning mucus, slime.