echovirus (redirected from ECHO viruses)

ech·o·vi·rus  (k-vrs)

n. pl. ech·o·vi·rus·es

Any of a number of enteroviruses of the family Picornaviridae, inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract and associated with various diseases, such as viral meningitis, mild respiratory infections, and severe diarrhea in newborns.

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[e(nteric) c(ytopathogenic) h(uman) o(rphan) virus.]

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echovirus [ˈɛkəʊˌvaɪrəs], ECHO virus

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Microbiology) any of a group of viruses that can cause symptoms of mild meningitis, the common cold, or infections of the intestinal and respiratory tracts

[from the initials of Enteric Cytopathic Human Orphan (``orphan'' because originally believed to be unrelated to any disease) + virus]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

echovirus - any of a group of viruses associated with various diseases including viral meningitis and mild respiratory disorders and diarrhea in newborn infants enterovirus - any of a group of picornaviruses that infect the gastrointestinal tract and can spread to other areas (especially the nervous system)