orphan viruses


or·phan vi·rus·es

viruses, such as the enteric orphan viruses, that when originally found were not specifically associated with disease; a number of these have since been shown to be pathogenic and subsequently reclassified.

or·phan vi·rus·es

(ōr'făn vī'rŭs-ĕz) Viruses (e.g., the enteric orphan viruses) that when originally found were not specifically associated with disease; several such have since been shown to be pathogenic.