Parapoxviruses infect vertebrates, including a wide selection of mammals, and humans.

Notable zoonotic hosts of parapoxviruses include sheep, goats, and cattle.

Fusion occurs with the plasma membrane to release the core into the host cytoplasm.

Assembly of progeny virions starts in cytoplasmic viral factories, producing a spherical immature particle.

The IMV can be released upon cell lysis, or can acquire a second double membrane from trans-Golgi and bud as external enveloped virion (EEV) host receptors, which mediates endocytosis.

[2] The genus contains the following species:[1] Parapoxviruses cause infection of cows, sheep, goats, and red squirrels worldwide.

[citation needed] Most reports indicate a higher frequency of human infections during the spring and autumn, presumably due to the seasonal slaughtering of susceptible animals.