Red deerpox virus  Red deerpox virus (RDPV) is a species of virus in the genus "Parapoxvirus". It has been reported in deer in New Zealand, and in wild ruminants in Italy. In 1987, deaths occurred on two Red Deer farms in New Zealand where secondary bacterial infections were seen alongside the lesions. In these particular cases, morbidity rates reached 100%. RDPV was classified as a separate species due to its unique patterns of restriction enzymes. Parapoxviruses belongs to the family of viruses named "Poxviridae", a group one family of double stranded DNA viruses. More specifically Parapoxvirus is classified into the subfamily of "Chordopoxvirinae". Generally, viruses within the "Poxviridae" family have brick or oval-shaped virions. Sizes range from between 140-260 nanometres in width and 220-450 nanometres in length. They are enveloped viruses with surface tubules sometimes referred to as surface filaments. Parapoxvirus virions are large in comparison to a majority of the other Poxviridae virions. Virions are the complete form of a virus outside of the host cell that is capable of infection. Virions contain a core of RNA or DNA within a capsid. A capsid is the protein shell of a virus. Parapoxvirus virions are typically 260 x 160 nanometers in size. They possess an enveloped capsid and a distinguishing spiral coat, which is composed of a crossing pattern of tubes. Dissecting a Parapoxvirus virion from the outside in, after passing through the either the EV envelope or the MV membrane (depending on the infectious virus particle, see bullets below) is the lateral body, its function is unknown. After this comes the core wall which is followed by the nucleocapsid. The nucleocapsid is simply the capsid of the Parapoxvirus that is enclosed in nucleic acid. Surprisingly, parapoxviruses have considerably smaller genomes that other genera of the family Poxviridae, (85 MDA). Parapoxvirus has two different infectious virus particles  Parapxvirus is a linear, double-stranded DNA virus. The length of the genome ranges from 130 – 150 kb. "The linear genome is flanked by inverted terminal repeat (ITR) sequences which are covalently-closed at their extremities." These viruses can infect ungulates (hoofed animals) and humans, and can be transmitted sexually and non sexually.