Filoviridae

Lackie Family of single-stranded RNA viruses, similar in some respect to rhabdoviruses. Marburg and Ebola viruses are the only two members of the family at present. Filovirus infections seem to cause intrinsic activation of the clotting cascade leading to haemorrhagic complications and high mortality. Morphologically, virions are very long filaments (up to 14 m m, 70nm thick), sometimes branched. The RNA is contained within a nucleocapsid that is surrounded by a cell-derived envelope.