[5] The outer surface of the virions is studded with helical polymeric structure composed of virally-encoded and host-derived protein dimers.

[citation needed] Species in this family cause overt salivary gland hypertrophy symptoms in dipteran adults.

Infection and replication in non-salivary gland cells induce partial in tsetse flies and complete shutdown of vitellogenesis in the houseflies.

[11] Two genera, each containing one species, are assigned to this family:[12] Morphologically and symptomologically similar virus to SGHVs has been reported to cause SGH symptoms in the male accessory gland filaments of the solitary braconid wasp, Diachasmimorpha longicuadata Ashmed (Hymenoptera.

Within the housefly populations, MdSGHV induces variable rates of overt SGH symptoms (0-40%), which is related to the fly's seasonal densities at various sampling sites.

[23] Hytrosaviruses (SGHVs) induce similar gross pathology (SGH symptoms) in the salivary glands of their respective adult insect hosts, but the cytopathogies are distinct for each of the two known genera (Glossinavirus and Muscavirus).

Infections of tissues other than the salivary glands is associated with various pathologies such as reproductive dysfunctions, infertility in females and distorted mating behaviors.

[25] When GpSGHV is artificially inoculated (intrahemocoelic) into adult stages of the tsetse fly Glossina pallidipes, overt SGH symptoms develop in the F1 offsprings produced by the injected mothers, but not in the parental generation.

[citation needed] In the housefly, MdSGHV in non-salivary gland tissues blocks the production of sesquiterpenoids, which in turn induces complete shutdown of vitellogenesis.

MdSGHV induces behavioral alterations in infected females, which refuse to copulate with either healthy or viremic males.

Unknown factors (e.g. stress or genetic) can trigger expression of overt SGH symptoms, which culminate in fly mortalities, reduced fecundity and eventual colony collapse.

[39] The CFS can be combined with supplementation of bloodmeals with antiviral drugs such as valacyclovir, which are administered at low doses that are non-detrimental to the fly's DNA synthesis.