Encephalomyocarditis virus

Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) is a member of the Picornaviridae family, and Cardiovirus genus. EMCV is small, non-enveloped, icosahedric, and contains positive sense single-stranded RNA. Infection with the virus causes encephalomyocarditis, myocarditis, encephalitis, and reproductive and neurological disease in a variety of mammal species. Because of this, EMCV is commonly used as a model for myocarditis and other immunological studies. Although a variety of mammals may host the virus, pigs are classed as the domestic host as they are most easily infected, and it is thought to be spread by rodents. Another potential vector is through bats, after the EMCV genome was found widely in fecal guanos East Asia. This raises concern in potential research on pig heart transplants to humans, highlighting need for further investigation.