1
|
Sandfly-Borne Phleboviruses in Portugal: Four and Still Counting. Viruses 2022; 14:v14081768. [PMID: 36016390 PMCID: PMC9413822 DOI: 10.3390/v14081768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
According to ICTV, there are currently 66 known phlebovirus species. More than 40 of these viruses were isolated or detected in phlebotomine sandflies and some of them are known pathogens. In Portugal, information about sandfly-borne phleboviruses is scarce and scattered sandfly-borne diseases are neglected and often not considered in differential diagnoses. The main objective of this work was to gather the existing information and to raise awareness about the circulating phleboviruses in this country. To date, Massilia and Alcube phleboviruses have been isolated from sandflies in southern Portugal. Human infections with Toscana and Sicilian phleboviruses have been reported, as well as seroprevalence in cats and dogs. More studies are needed in order to understand if the viruses isolated during the entomological surveys have an impact on human health and to fully understand the real importance of the already recognized pathogens in our country.
Collapse
|
2
|
Circulation of Toscana Virus in a Sample Population of Corsica, France. Viruses 2019; 11:v11090817. [PMID: 31487870 PMCID: PMC6784206 DOI: 10.3390/v11090817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 08/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Sandfly-borne phleboviruses pathogenic to humans, such as Toscana virus (TOSV) and Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV), are endemic in the Mediterranean region. In France, several autochthonous cases of TOSV infection have been described, causing either meningitis or encephalitis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence of TOSV and SFSV antibodies in a healthy population from Corsica. In this cross-sectional study, participants were enrolled (i) from a medical staff at the University of Corsica and (ii) from general practitioners of the Corsican Sentinelles Network. The seroprevalence study was based on a virus microneutralization assay. A total of 240 sera were tested. Altogether, 54 sera (22.5%) were confirmed positive for TOSV antibodies, whereas none were positive for SFSV (0/240). The residential district of participants was significantly associated with TOSV seropositivity (p value = 0.005). The rate of the seropositivity against TOSV in our study suggests that the Corsican population is well exposed to the TOSV. These results encourage the implementation of a systematic surveillance system including entomological, microbiological, and medical aspects for the collection of better information on the diseases that are associated with phleboviruses in Corsica and beyond in the regions where these viruses are present.
Collapse
|
3
|
Detection of a Novel Phlebovirus (Drin Virus) from Sand Flies in Albania. Viruses 2019; 11:v11050469. [PMID: 31126034 PMCID: PMC6563191 DOI: 10.3390/v11050469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Phlebotomine sand flies are generalist vectors with significant implications for public health. They are able to transmit phleboviruses that cause sand fly fever, headaches, or meningitis in humans. Albania is a country in Southeast Europe with a typical Mediterranean climate which provides convenient conditions for the presence of sand flies. Hence, the circulation of phleboviruses, such as the Toscana and Balkan viruses, has been recently described in the country. We followed a virus discovery approach on sand fly samples collected in 2015 and 2016 in seven regions of Albania, with the aim to investigate and characterize potentially circulating phleboviruses in phlebotomine sand flies. A presumed novel phlebovirus was detected in a pool consisting of 24 Phlebotomus neglectus males. The virus was provisionally named the Drin virus after a river near the locality of Kukës, where the infected sand flies were trapped. Genetic and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Drin virus is closely related to the Corfou (CFUV) virus, isolated in the 1980s from Phlebotomus major sand flies on the eponymous island of Greece, and may also be involved in human infections because of its similarity to the sand fly fever Sicilian virus. The latter justifies further studies to specifically address this concern. Together with recent findings, this study confirms that Albania and the Balkan peninsula are hot spots for phleboviruses.
Collapse
|
4
|
Alkan C, Moin Vaziri V, Ayhan N, Badakhshan M, Bichaud L, Rahbarian N, Javadian EA, Alten B, de Lamballerie X, Charrel RN. Isolation and sequencing of Dashli virus, a novel Sicilian-like virus in sandflies from Iran; genetic and phylogenetic evidence for the creation of one novel species within the Phlebovirus genus in the Phenuiviridae family. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005978. [PMID: 29281639 PMCID: PMC5760094 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Phlebotomine sandflies are vectors of phleboviruses that cause sandfly fever or meningitis with significant implications for public health. Although several strains of these viruses had been isolated in Iran in the late 1970's, there was no recent data about the present situation at the outset of this study. Entomological investigations performed in 2009 and 2011 in Iran collected 4,770 sandflies from 10 different regions. Based on morphological identification, they were sorted into 315 pools according to species, sex, trapping station and date of capture. A phlebovirus, provisionally named Dashli virus (DASHV), was isolated from one pool of Sergentomyia spp, and subsequently DASHV RNA was detected in a second pool of Phlebotomus papatasi. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses based on complete coding genomic sequences indicated that (i) DASHV is most closely related to the Iranian isolates of Sandfly fever Sicilian virus [SFSV], (ii) there is a common ancestor to DASHV, Sandfly fever Sicilian- (SFS) and SFS-like viruses isolated in Italy, India, Turkey, and Cyprus (lineage I), (iii) DASHV is more distantly related with Corfou and Toros viruses (lineage II) although common ancestry is supported with 100% bootstrap, (iii) lineage I can be subdivided into sublineage Ia including all SFSV, SFCV and SFTV except those isolated in Iran which forms sublineage Ib (DASHV). Accordingly, we suggest to approve Sandfly fever Sicilian virus species consisting of the all aforementioned viruses. Owing that most of these viruses have been identified in human patients with febrile illness, DASHV should be considered as a potential human pathogen in Iran. Phlebotomine sandflies are vectors of phleboviruses that cause sandfly fever or meningitis with significant implications for public health. Although several strains of these viruses had been isolated in Iran in the late 1970's, there was no recent data about the present situation at the outset of this study. Entomological investigations performed in 2009 and 2011 in Iran collected 4,770 sandflies from 10 different regions. A phlebovirus, provisionally named Dashli virus (DASHV), was isolated / detected in two pools. DASHV strain was isolated in cell culture and complete genome sequence was determined. Sequence analysis indicated that (i) DASHV is most closely related to the Iranian isolates of Sandfly fever Sicilian virus [SFSV], a virus that is known to cause self-resolutive incapacitating febrile illness in humans, (ii) there is a common ancestor to DASHV and all other variants of SFSV isolated in Italy, India, Turkey, and Cyprus (lineage I), (iii) DASHV is more distantly related with Corfou and Toros viruses (lineage II) although common ancestry is supported with 100% bootstrap, (iii) lineage I can be subdivided into sublineage Ia including all SFSV strains, whereas Iranian viruses are most closely related and should be individualized as DASHV (sublineage Ib). Although discovered first in the 1940's, SFSV is still listed as "tentative species" by the International Committee for Taxonomy of Viruses. Based on the results described in this study, we propose to approve Sandfly fever Sicilian virus species. Owing that most of these viruses have been identified in human patients with febrile illness, DASHV should be considered as a potential human pathogen in Iran.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cigdem Alkan
- UMR "Unité des Virus Emergents" (UVE Aix-Marseille Univ—IRD 190—Inserm 1207—EHESP), Marseille, France
- Fondation IHU Mediterranee Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Vahideh Moin Vaziri
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- * E-mail: (RNC); (VMV)
| | - Nazli Ayhan
- UMR "Unité des Virus Emergents" (UVE Aix-Marseille Univ—IRD 190—Inserm 1207—EHESP), Marseille, France
- Fondation IHU Mediterranee Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Mehdi Badakhshan
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health and Institute of Public Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Laurence Bichaud
- UMR "Unité des Virus Emergents" (UVE Aix-Marseille Univ—IRD 190—Inserm 1207—EHESP), Marseille, France
- Fondation IHU Mediterranee Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Nourina Rahbarian
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ezat-Aldin Javadian
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health and Institute of Public Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bulent Alten
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Ecology Section, ESR Laboratories, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Xavier de Lamballerie
- UMR "Unité des Virus Emergents" (UVE Aix-Marseille Univ—IRD 190—Inserm 1207—EHESP), Marseille, France
- Fondation IHU Mediterranee Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Remi N. Charrel
- UMR "Unité des Virus Emergents" (UVE Aix-Marseille Univ—IRD 190—Inserm 1207—EHESP), Marseille, France
- Fondation IHU Mediterranee Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France
- * E-mail: (RNC); (VMV)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Alkan C, Bichaud L, de Lamballerie X, Alten B, Gould EA, Charrel RN. Sandfly-borne phleboviruses of Eurasia and Africa: Epidemiology, genetic diversity, geographic range, control measures. Antiviral Res 2013; 100:54-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2013.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2013] [Revised: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 07/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
6
|
Peyrefitte CN, Grandadam M, Bessaud M, Andry PE, Fouque F, Caro V, Diancourt L, Schuffenecker I, Pagès F, Tolou H, Zeller H, Depaquit J. Diversity of Phlebotomus perniciosus in Provence, Southeastern France: Detection of Two Putative New Phlebovirus Sequences. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2013; 13:630-6. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2012.1169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marc Grandadam
- Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées antenne de Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Maël Bessaud
- UMR190 “Emergence des Pathologies Virales," Aix-Marseille University–IRD French Institute of Research for Development–EHESP French School of Public Health, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre-Emmanuel Andry
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, ANSES, EA4688 “Transmission vectorielle et épidémiosurveillance de maladies parasitaires (VECPAR),” Reims, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Frédéric Pagès
- Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées antenne de Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Hugues Tolou
- Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Brétigny sur Orge, France
| | | | - Jérôme Depaquit
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, ANSES, EA4688 “Transmission vectorielle et épidémiosurveillance de maladies parasitaires (VECPAR),” Reims, France
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Cusi MG, Gandolfo C, Valentini M, Savellini GG. Seroprevalence of Antibodies to Sandfly Fever Sicilian Virus in a Sample Population in Tuscany, Italy. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2013; 13:345-6. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2011.0945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Cusi
- Department of Biotechnology, Microbiology Section, University of Siena, Italy
| | - Claudia Gandolfo
- Department of Biotechnology, Microbiology Section, University of Siena, Italy
| | - Melissa Valentini
- Department of Biotechnology, Microbiology Section, University of Siena, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Calamusa G, Valenti RM, Vitale F, Mammina C, Romano N, Goedert JJ, Gori-Savellini G, Cusi MG, Amodio E. Seroprevalence of and risk factors for Toscana and Sicilian virus infection in a sample population of Sicily (Italy). J Infect 2012; 64:212-7. [PMID: 22120113 PMCID: PMC3630500 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2011.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2011] [Revised: 11/05/2011] [Accepted: 11/12/2011] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to assess seroprevalence of and risk factors for Toscana (TOSV) and Sicilian (SFSV) virus infections in a sample of Sicilian subjects. METHODS A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was conducted on 271 individuals. Each participant completed a self-administrated questionnaire and provided a serum sample which was analyzed for the presence of IgG specific anti-TOSV and anti-SFSV viruses. RESULTS Overall, 90 subjects (33.2%) were positive for TOSV IgG, 25 (9.2%) were positive for SFSV IgG and 11 (4%) were positive for both the viruses. A higher risk for TOSV seropositivity was found in participants who were older (adjOR = 1.02 per year; 95% CI = 1.01-1.03), having a pet living outdoors (adjOR = 2.62; 95% CI = 1.42-4.83) and being obese (adjOR = 2.37; 95% CI = 1.06-5.30). CONCLUSIONS TOSV seroprevalence appears to be relatively high in Sicilian general population, especially in older adults, representing a potential public health concern. The observations that seropositivity for TOSV was not significantly associated with SFSV seropositivity, and none of the risk factors associated with TOSV were associated with SFSV seem to suggest that these two phleboviruses may have different ecology and transmission pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Calamusa
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion “G. D’Alessandro,” University of Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosalia Maria Valenti
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion “G. D’Alessandro,” University of Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Vitale
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion “G. D’Alessandro,” University of Palermo, Italy
| | - Caterina Mammina
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion “G. D’Alessandro,” University of Palermo, Italy
| | - Nino Romano
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion “G. D’Alessandro,” University of Palermo, Italy
| | - James J. Goedert
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | | | - Maria Grazia Cusi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Microbiology Section, University of Siena, Italy
| | - Emanuele Amodio
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion “G. D’Alessandro,” University of Palermo, Italy
| |
Collapse
|