rotavirus

plural rotaviruses · plural rare rotavirusses · plural rare rotavira · plural proscribed rotaviri · plural proscribed rotavirii

1. Any of a group of wheel-shaped viruses, of the genus Rotavirus, that causes gastroenteritis and diarrhea in children and animals.

   We propose therefore that these reovirus-like or orbivirus-like enteritis viruses of calves and children are in a group separate from both orbiviruses and reoviruses, and we suggest that the term “rotavirus” (from the Latin rota, a wheel) should be used for them.

   [1974 July 13, Flewett, T. H., Bryden, A. S., Davies, H., Woode, G. N., Bridger, J. C., Derrick, J. M., “Relation between viruses from acute gastroenteritis of children and newborn calves”, in The Lancet, volume 304, number 7872, →DOI, page 63

   Synonyms: duovirus