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This review presents current data on the Mamastroviruses and Avastroviruses (Astroviridae), their molecular biology, genetic diversity, interspecies transmission, pathogenesis, and astrovirus infections. Avastroviruses are small, non-enveloped, with icosahedral and spherical geometries, linear and non-segmented, ssRNA(+) genome. They were first identified in 1975 in children suffering from diarrhea and then were described in a wide variety of animals. Astroviruses have been isolated from feces of different species of mammals and birds. They were found to be associated with gastroenteritis in young individuals. The genus Mamastrovirus consists of members infecting different mammalian hosts, including humans, cattle, sheep, roe deer, pigs, cats, dogs, minks, bats, dolphins and sea lions. Currently, Avastroviruses isolated from birds were officially classified into three avastrovirus species. The molecular characteristics of different astroviruses shows great genetic variability and this influences the ability to identify and detect these viruses by molecular and serological techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]