The genus of viruses (family Poxviridae) that includes the contagious ecthyma of sheep, bovine papular stomatitis, and paravaccinia viruses. They possess the nucleoprotein antigen common to all viruses included in the family but differ from other poxviruses in morphology ( e.g., virions are smaller and have thicker external coats) and by not multiplying in embryonated eggs.
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Para·pox·vi·rus (par″ə-poksґvi-rəs) [para- + poxvirus] a genus of viruses of the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae (family Poxviridae) with serologic cross reactivity, comprising viruses of ungulates, including orf virus, pseudocowpox virus, and bovine papular stomatitis virus.Medical dictionary. 2011.