Lycanthropic Parvovirus

The Lycanthropic Parvovirus (LPV) is a zoonotic virus classified in the family Parvoviridae. It is responsible for a condition known as lycanthropy, which causes drastic physiological and psychological changes in its host, transforming them into what are colloquially known as "lycans" or werewolves.   LPV is unique among parvoviruses due to its ability to infect and transform nearly every nucleated cell in the human body. Unlike most parvoviruses, LPV doesn't destroy host cells through lysis but instead buds from them, leaving them altered but intact. This allows the virus to spread rapidly without triggering an immediate immune response.   The virus causes extensive genetic alterations in host cells, leading to dramatic morphological changes that transform the human body into a more canine-like form over a period of about six weeks. These changes are irreversible and affect every major system in the body, including skeletal, muscular, sensory, and neurological.   LPV infection is believed to be the biological basis for werewolf legends found in cultures around the world. While not supernatural in nature, the abilities and limitations of infected individuals often appear to be beyond human capabilities, leading to their mythologization in folklore.