Hepadnaviridae

Hepadnaviridae is a family of viruses. Humans, apes, and birds serve as natural hosts. There are currently seven species in this family, divided among 2 genera. Its best-known member is the hepatitis B virus. Diseases associated with this family include: liver infections, such as hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinomas (chronic infections), and cirrhosis. A new virus has been described in fish - white sucker hepatitis B virus. This is the first hepadnavirus described from fish. While clearly a hepadnavirus it appears only to be distantly related to the previously described genera and will almost certainly be placed in a new genus. Several other viruses have been described from fish and from a frog: Bluegill hepadnavirus (BGHB), African cichlid hepadnavirus (ACHBV) and Tibetan frog hepadnavirus. It seems likely that new genera in this family will need to be created.