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Mori A, Matucci A, Pomari E, Accordini S, Piubelli C, Donini A, Nicolini L, Castilletti C. Urine: A Pitfall for Molecular Detection of Toscana Virus? An Analytical Proof-of-Concept Study. Viruses 2024; 16:98. [PMID: 38257798 PMCID: PMC10821263 DOI: 10.3390/v16010098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Toscana virus (TOSV), a sandfly-borne virus, is an important etiological agent in human acute meningitis and meningoencephalitis in the Mediterranean area during the summer. However, the actual number of TOSV infections is underestimated. Laboratory confirmation is necessary because TOSV infection has overlapping clinical features with other neuro-invasive viral infections. Nowadays, the reference test for direct diagnosis in the acute phase of TOSV infection is the PCR based method for detecting TOSV in cerebrospinal fluid and/or plasma, serum, or blood. Although poorly employed, urine is another helpful biological matrix for TOSV detection. Urine is a matrix rich in PCR inhibitors that affect PCR efficiency; consequently, false negatives could be generated. To investigate the potential effect of urine PCR inhibitors on TOSV detection, we compared undiluted and diluted urine using 10-fold series of spiked TOSV. The results showed a significant improvement in TOSV detection performance in diluted urine (1 TCID50 vs. 1 × 104 TCID50 limit of detection and 101.35% vs. 129.62% efficiency, respectively, in diluted and undiluted urine). In conclusion, our data provide preliminary important insights into the use of diluted urine to limit the impact of the inhibitory effects of urine on the detection of TOSV in RT-PCR-based approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elena Pomari
- Department of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy; (A.M.); (S.A.); (C.P.); (A.D.); (L.N.)
| | | | | | | | | | - Concetta Castilletti
- Department of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy; (A.M.); (S.A.); (C.P.); (A.D.); (L.N.)
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Prudhomme J, Depaquit J, Fite J, Quillery E, Bouhsira E, Liénard E. Systematic review of hematophagous arthropods present in cattle in France. Parasite 2023; 30:56. [PMID: 38084937 PMCID: PMC10714678 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2023059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The arrival of pathogens, whether zoonotic or not, can have a lasting effect on commercial livestock farms, with dramatic health, social and economic consequences. However, available data concerning the arthropod vectors present and circulating on livestock farms in France are still very imprecise, fragmentary, and scattered. In this context, we conducted a systematic review of the hematophagous arthropod species recorded on different types of cattle farms in mainland France (including Corsica). The used vector "groups" studied were biting flies, biting midges, black flies, fleas, horse flies, lice, louse flies, mosquitoes, sand flies, and ticks. A large number of documents were selected (N = 9,225), read (N = 1,047) and analyzed (N = 290), allowing us to provide distribution and abundance maps of different species of medical and veterinary interest according to literature data. Despite the large number of documents collected and analyzed, there are few data provided on cattle farm characteristics. Moreover, data on all arthropod groups lack numerical detail and are based on limited data in time and/or space. Therefore, they are not generalizable nor comparable. There is still little information on many vectors (and their pathogens) and still many unknowns for most studied groups. It appears necessary to provide new, updated and standardized data, collected in different geographical and climatological areas. Finally, this work highlights the lack of entomologists, funding, training and government support, leading to an increased risk of uncontrolled disease emergence in cattle herds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorian Prudhomme
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InTheres, University of Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT 31300 Toulouse France
| | - Jérôme Depaquit
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Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Faculté de Pharmacie, EA7510 EpidémioSurveillance et Circulation de Parasites dans les Environnements, and ANSES, USC Pathogènes-Environnement-Toxoplasme-Arthropodes-Réservoirs-bioDiversité Reims France
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Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie 51092 Reims France
| | - Johanna Fite
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French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Risk Assessment Department Maisons-Alfort Cedex France
| | - Elsa Quillery
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French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Risk Assessment Department Maisons-Alfort Cedex France
| | - Emilie Bouhsira
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InTheres, University of Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT 31300 Toulouse France
| | - Emmanuel Liénard
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InTheres, University of Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT 31300 Toulouse France
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Dachraoui K, Chelbi I, Labidi I, Ben Osman R, Sayadi A, Ben Said M, Cherni S, Abbas MAS, Charrel R, Zhioua E. The Role of the Leishmania infantum Infected Dogs as a Potential Reservoir Host for Toscana Virus in a Zoonotic Visceral Leishmaniasis Focus of Northern Tunisia. Viruses 2023; 15:v15041012. [PMID: 37112992 PMCID: PMC10143639 DOI: 10.3390/v15041012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of dogs as reservoir hosts for Toscana virus (TOSV) remains undetermined. This study investigated TOSV and Leishmania infantum infections in one healthy and three infected dogs with Leishmania (A, B, C) following natural exposition to sandfly bites in a focus of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) located in Northern Tunisia from June to October 2020. At the end of the exposition period, infected and healthy dogs were examined for TOSV and L. infantum infections by xenodiagnosis using a colony of Phlebotomus perniciosus. Pools of freshly engorged P. perniciosus at days 0 and those at days 7 post-feeding were screened for TOSV and L. infantum by nested PCR in the polymerase gene and kinetoplast minicircle DNA, respectively. In the exposure site, P. pernicious is the most abundant sandfly species. The infection rates of sandflies with TOSV and L. infantum were 0.10 and 0.05%, respectively. Leishmania infantum DNA and TOSV RNA were detected in P. perniciosus females fed on dog B and C, respectively. The isolation of TOSV in Vero cells was achieved from two pools containing P. perniciosus fed on dog C. No pathogens were detected in P. perniciosus females fed on dog A and on control dog. We report for the first time the reservoir competence of dog with ZVL in the transmission of TOSV to sandfly vectors in natural settings, in addition to its role as a main reservoir host of L. infantum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalil Dachraoui
- Unit of Vector Ecology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immuno-Biology of Infections, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Ifhem Chelbi
- Unit of Vector Ecology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immuno-Biology of Infections, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Imen Labidi
- Unit of Vector Ecology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Raja Ben Osman
- Vaccine Control Unit, National Drug Control Laboratory, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Aida Sayadi
- Vaccine Control Unit, National Drug Control Laboratory, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Mourad Ben Said
- Department of Basic Sciences, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia
| | - Saifedine Cherni
- Unit of Vector Ecology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | | | - Rémi Charrel
- Unité des Virus Emergents, Aix-Marseille University, IRD 190, INSERM U1207, 13005 Marseille, France
- Laboratoire des Infections Virales Aigues et Tropicales, Pole des Maladies Infectieuses, AP-HM Hôpitaux Universitaires de Marseille, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Elyes Zhioua
- Unit of Vector Ecology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immuno-Biology of Infections, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
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Ayhan N, Rodríguez-Teijeiro JD, López-Roig M, Vinyoles D, Ferreres JA, Monastiri A, Charrel R, Serra-Cobo J. High rates of antibodies against Toscana and Sicilian phleboviruses in common quail Coturnix coturnix birds. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1091908. [PMID: 36687574 PMCID: PMC9846092 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1091908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Birds are involved natural cycle of a number of vector-borne viruses in both rural and urban areas. Toscana (TOSV) and Sicilian (SFSV) phleboviruses are sandfly-borne viruses in the genus Phlebovirus that can cause diseases in human. However, there is limited information on the role of the birds in sandfly-borne phleboviruses natural cycle and reservoirs ofthese viruses remain unknown. Methods In this study, we analyzed Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) sera from Spain to identify the seroprevalence of these two phleboviruses. We tested respectively, 106 and 110 quail serum against TOSV and SFSV from 2018, 2019, and 2021 from two locations in northern Spain with using virus neutralization test. Results We identified high neutralizing antibody rates for SFSV (45.45%) and TOSV (42.45%) with yearly fluctuation. Discussion This is the first identification of SFSV and TOSV neutralizing antibodies in wild birds. High seroprevalence rates of TOSV and SFSV in quail birds raises the question whether birds have a role as amplifying hosts in the natural cycle of phleboviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazli Ayhan
- Unité des Virus Emergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Université, IRD 190, INSERM 1207), Marseille, France
| | - José Domingo Rodríguez-Teijeiro
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc López-Roig
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dolors Vinyoles
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Anton Ferreres
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Abir Monastiri
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Remi Charrel
- Unité des Virus Emergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Université, IRD 190, INSERM 1207), Marseille, France,*Correspondence: Remi Charrel,
| | - Jordi Serra-Cobo
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Jordi Serra-Cobo,
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Ortuño M, Muñoz C, Spitzová T, Sumova P, Iborra MA, Pérez‐Cutillas P, Ayhan N, Charrel RN, Volf P, Berriatua E. Exposure to Phlebotomus perniciosus sandfly vectors is positively associated with Toscana virus and Leishmania infantum infection in human blood donors in Murcia Region, southeast Spain. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:e1854-e1864. [PMID: 35357094 PMCID: PMC9790518 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies against Phlebotomus perniciosus sandfly salivary gland homogenate (SGH) and recombinant protein rSP03B, sandfly-borne Toscana virus (TOSV), Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV) and Leishmania, as well as DNA of the latter parasite, were investigated in 670 blood samples from 575 human donors in Murcia Region, southeast Spain, in 2017 and 2018. The estimated SGH and rSP03B seroprevalences were 69% and 88%, respectively, although correlation between test results was relatively low (ρ = 0.39). Similarly, TOSV, SFSV and Leishmania seroprevalences were 26%, 0% and 1%, respectively, and Leishmania PCR prevalence was 2%. Prevalences were significantly greater in 2017, overdispersed and not spatially related to each other although both were positively associated with SGH but not to rSP03B antibody optical densities, questioning the value of the latter as a diagnostic marker for these infections in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Ortuño
- Departamento de Sanidad AnimalFacultad de VeterinariaCampus de Excelencia Internacional Regional ‘Campus Mare Nostrum’Universidad de MurciaMurciaSpain
| | - Clara Muñoz
- Departamento de Sanidad AnimalFacultad de VeterinariaCampus de Excelencia Internacional Regional ‘Campus Mare Nostrum’Universidad de MurciaMurciaSpain
| | - Tatiana Spitzová
- Department of ParasitologyFaculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Petra Sumova
- Department of ParasitologyFaculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | | | - Pedro Pérez‐Cutillas
- Grupo de Erosión y Conservación de SuelosCentro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del SeguraConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEBAS‐CSIC)MurciaSpain
| | - Nazli Ayhan
- Unite des Virus Emergents, Aix‐Marseille Université, IRD 190, Inserm 1207, IHU Mediterranée InfectionMarseilleFrance
| | - Remi N. Charrel
- Unite des Virus Emergents, Aix‐Marseille Université, IRD 190, Inserm 1207, IHU Mediterranée InfectionMarseilleFrance
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of ParasitologyFaculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Eduardo Berriatua
- Departamento de Sanidad AnimalFacultad de VeterinariaCampus de Excelencia Internacional Regional ‘Campus Mare Nostrum’Universidad de MurciaMurciaSpain
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Sellali S, Lafri I, Hachid A, Ayhan N, Benbetka C, Medrouh B, Messahel NE, El Amine Bekara M, Lafri M, Charrel RN, Bitam I. Presence of the sandfly-borne phlebovirus (Toscana virus) in different bio-geographical regions of Algeria demonstrated by a microneutralisation-based seroprevalence study in owned dogs. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2022; 88:101861. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2022.101861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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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.
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Dachraoui K, Chelbi I, Ben Said M, Ben Osman R, Cherni S, Charrel R, Zhioua E. Transmission Dynamics of Punique Virus in Tunisia. Viruses 2022; 14:v14050904. [PMID: 35632646 PMCID: PMC9147715 DOI: 10.3390/v14050904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A novel phlebovirus, Punique virus (PUNV), was discovered and isolated in 2008 from sandflies from Northern Tunisia. PUNV is now classified as a unique member of the Punique phlebovirus species within the Phlebovirus genus in the Phenuiviridae family (order bunyavirales). In this study, we aimed to investigate the transmission dynamics of PUNV in Tunisia. Sandflies were collected during two consecutive years, 2009 and 2010, by CDC light traps. In 2009, a total of 873 sandflies were collected and identified to the species level. Phlebotomus perniciosus was the most abundant species. One pool of P. perniciosus females collected in autumn contained PUNV RNA, yielding an infection rate of 0.11%. The population densities of circulating sandfly species were assessed during May–November 2010 in Northern Tunisia by using sticky traps. Phlebotomus (Larroussius) perniciosus (71.74%) was the most abundant species, followed by Phlebotumus (Larroussius) longicuspis (17.47%), and Phlebotumus (Larroussius) perfiliewi (8.82%). The densities of dominant sandfly species were found to peak in early spring and again in the autumn. In 2010, species identification was not performed, and sandflies were only discriminated on the basis of sex and collection date. Out of 249 pools, three contained PUNV RNA. Each positive pool allowed virus isolation. The three pools of female sandflies containing PUNV RNA were collected in autumn with an infection rate of 0.05%. These findings provide further evidence that P. perniciosus is the main vector of PUNV in Tunisia, and this phlebovirus is endemic in Tunisia. Our findings provided strong evidence of intensive circulation of PUNV in sandflies and hosts through a viral infection buildup process between sandfly vectors and hosts starting at the beginning of the activity of sandflies in spring to reach a maximum during the second main peak in autumn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalil Dachraoui
- Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Unit of Vector Ecology, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (K.D.); (I.C.); (S.C.)
| | - Ifhem Chelbi
- Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Unit of Vector Ecology, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (K.D.); (I.C.); (S.C.)
| | - Mourad Ben Said
- Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia;
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sid Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia
| | - Raja Ben Osman
- National Drug Control Laboratory, Vaccine Control Unit, Tunis 1002, Tunisia;
| | - Saifedine Cherni
- Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Unit of Vector Ecology, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (K.D.); (I.C.); (S.C.)
| | - Rémi Charrel
- Unité des Virus Emergents, Aix-Marseille University, IRD 190, INSERM 1207, 13005 Marseille, France;
| | - Elyes Zhioua
- Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Unit of Vector Ecology, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (K.D.); (I.C.); (S.C.)
- Correspondence:
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Lelli D, Scanferla V, Moreno A, Sozzi E, Ravaioli V, Renzi M, Tosi G, Dottori M, Lavazza A, Calzolari M. Serological Evidence of Phleboviruses in Domestic Animals on the Pre-Apennine Hills (Northern Italy). Viruses 2021; 13:v13081577. [PMID: 34452442 PMCID: PMC8402779 DOI: 10.3390/v13081577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Phleboviruses are arboviruses transmitted by sand flies, mosquitoes and ticks. Some sand fly-borne phleboviruses cause illnesses in humans, such as the summer fevers caused by the Sicilian and Naples viruses or meningitis caused by the Toscana virus. Indeed, traces of several phleboviral infections have been serologically detected in domestic animals, but their potential pathogenic role in vertebrates other than humans is still unclear, as is the role of vertebrates as potential reservoirs of these viruses. In this study, we report the results of a serological survey performed on domestic animals sampled in Northern Italy, against four phleboviruses isolated from sand flies in the same area. The sera of 23 dogs, 165 sheep and 23 goats were tested with a virus neutralization assay for Toscana virus, Fermo virus, Ponticelli I virus and Ponticelli III virus. Neutralizing antibodies against one or more phleboviruses were detected in four out of 23 dogs, 31 out of 165 sheep and 12 out of 23 goats. This study shows preliminary evidence for the distribution pattern of phleboviral infections in different animal species, highlighting the potential infection of the Toscana virus in dogs and the Fermo virus in goats.
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Seroprevalence of Toscana Virus and Sandfly Fever Sicilian Virus in European Bat Colonies Measured Using a Neutralization Test. Viruses 2021; 13:v13010088. [PMID: 33440618 PMCID: PMC7826795 DOI: 10.3390/v13010088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Toscana phlebovirus (TOSV) and Sicilian phlebovirus (SFSV) are endemic in the Mediterranean area where they are transmitted to humans by infected sandflies. Vertebrates of several species have been postulated to act as reservoirs of these viruses, but convincing evidence is still awaited. Among them, bats have been suggested, however documented evidence is lacking. Here we tested a total of 329 bats belonging to eight species collected from twelve localities in southern Spain for the presence of neutralizing antibodies specific to TOSV and SFSV. Positive sera were detected in Schreiber’s long-fingered bat (Miniopterus schreibersii), mouse-eared Myotis (Myotis myotis), European free-tailed bat (Tadarida teniotis), and common serotine (Eptesicus serotinus) with the latter showing the highest prevalence rates for SFSV (22.6%) and TOSV (10%). There was no difference between females and males. Results suggest that bats are not likely to play a major role in the natural cycle of these two sandfly-borne phleboviruses. However, large breeding colonies of bats can be used as sentinels for surveillance of the presence of such viruses in a given locality. In addition, capture–recapture studies should be initiated in order to understand better the dynamics of TOSV and SFSV in bat populations.
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Ergünay K, Polat C, Özkul A. Vector-borne viruses in Turkey: A systematic review and bibliography. Antiviral Res 2020; 183:104934. [PMID: 32949637 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Turkey serves as a natural hub for the dissemination of vector-borne viruses and provides many suitable habitats with diverse ecologies for introduction and establishment of new pathogens. This manuscript provides an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of the vector-borne viruses documented in Turkey. Following web-based identification, screening and eligibility evaluation, 291 published reports were reviewed. The publications were categorized and listed as a supplementary bibliography accompanying the manuscript. In brief, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and West Nile virus (WNV) are currently documented as prominent tick and mosquito-borne viral pathogens in Turkey. CCHFV produces a significant number of infections annually, with severe outcome or death in a portion of cases. WNV gained attention following the clustering of cases in 2010. Exposure and infections with sandfly-borne phleboviruses, such as Toscana virus, are indigenous and widespread. Epidemiology, risk factors, symptomatic infections in susceptible hosts, vectors and reservoirs for these pathogens have been explored in detail. Detection of novel viruses in mosquitoes, sandflies and ticks from several regions is of particular interest, despite scarce information on their epidemiology and pathogenicity in vertebrates. Introduction and emergence of viruses transmitted by invasive Aedes mosquitoes constitute a threat, albeit only imported infections have so far been documented. Detection of Rift valley fever virus exposure is also of concern, due to its detrimental effects on livestock and spillover infections in humans. Vigilance to identify and diagnose probable cases as well as vector surveillance for established and potential pathogens is therefore, imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koray Ergünay
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Ankara, 06100, Turkey.
| | - Ceylan Polat
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Ankara, 06100, Turkey
| | - Aykut Özkul
- Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Virology, Ankara, 06110, Turkey
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