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The Journal of General Virology Nov 2021Sandfly-borne phleboviruses are distributed widely throughout the Mediterranean Basin, presenting a threat to public health in areas where they circulate. However, the...
Sandfly-borne phleboviruses are distributed widely throughout the Mediterranean Basin, presenting a threat to public health in areas where they circulate. However, the true diversity and distribution of pathogenic and apathogenic sandfly-borne phleboviruses remains a key issue to be studied. In the Balkans, most published data rely on serology-based studies although virus isolation has occasionally been reported. Here, we report the discovery of two novel sandfly-borne phleboviruses, provisionally named Zaba virus (ZABAV) and Bregalaka virus (BREV), which were isolated in Croatia and North Macedonia, respectively. This constitutes the first isolation of phleboviruses in both countries. Genetic analysis based on complete coding sequences indicated that ZABAV and BREV are distinct from each other and belong to the genus family . Phylogenetic and amino acid modelling of viral polymerase shows that ZABAV and BREV are new members of the species and the species, respectively. Moreover, sequence-based vector identification suggests that ZABAV is mainly transmitted by and BREV is mainly transmitted by . BREV neutralizing antibodies were detected in 3.3% of human sera with rates up to 16.7% in certain districts, demonstrating that BREV frequently infects humans in North Macedonia. viral growth kinetics experiments demonstrated viral replication of both viruses in mammalian and mosquito cells. experimental studies in mice suggest that ZABAV and BREV exhibit characteristics making them possible human pathogens.
Topics: Animals; Croatia; Insect Vectors; Mosquito Vectors; Phlebovirus; Phylogeny; Psychodidae; Republic of North Macedonia
PubMed: 34797756
DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001674 -
PloS One 2022Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a veterinary and human pathogen and is an agent of bioterrorism concern. Currently, RVFV treatment is limited to supportive care, so...
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a veterinary and human pathogen and is an agent of bioterrorism concern. Currently, RVFV treatment is limited to supportive care, so new drugs to control RVFV infection are urgently needed. RVFV is a member of the order Bunyavirales, whose replication depends on the enzymatic activity of the viral L protein. Screening for RVFV inhibitors among compounds with divalent cation-coordinating motifs similar to known viral nuclease inhibitors identified 47 novel RVFV inhibitors with selective indexes from 1.1-103 and 50% effective concentrations of 1.2-56 μM in Vero cells, primarily α-Hydroxytropolones and N-Hydroxypyridinediones. Inhibitor activity and selective index was validated in the human cell line A549. To evaluate specificity, select compounds were tested against a second Bunyavirus, La Crosse Virus (LACV), and the flavivirus Zika (ZIKV). These data indicate that the α-Hydroxytropolone and N-Hydroxypyridinedione chemotypes should be investigated in the future to determine their mechanism(s) of action allowing further development as therapeutics for RVFV and LACV, and these chemotypes should be evaluated for activity against related pathogens, including Hantaan virus, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus.
Topics: Animals; Cations, Divalent; Chlorocebus aethiops; Humans; La Crosse virus; Rift Valley fever virus; Vero Cells; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 36112605
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274266 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Dec 2021Toscana virus (TOSV) is an emerging pathogen in the Mediterranean area and is neuroinvasive in its most severe form. Basic knowledge on TOSV biology is limited. We...
Toscana virus (TOSV) is an emerging pathogen in the Mediterranean area and is neuroinvasive in its most severe form. Basic knowledge on TOSV biology is limited. We conducted a systematic review on travel-related infections to estimate the TOSV incubation period. We estimated the incubation period at 12.1 days.
Topics: Antibodies, Viral; Bunyaviridae Infections; Humans; Infectious Disease Incubation Period; Sandfly fever Naples virus; Travel; Travel-Related Illness; Virus Diseases
PubMed: 34808074
DOI: 10.3201/eid2712.203172 -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Apr 2024
Topics: Humans; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome; Retrospective Studies; Phlebovirus; Thrombocytopenia
PubMed: 38266706
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2024.01.009 -
Clinical Differentiation of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome from Japanese Spotted Fever.Viruses Aug 2022Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and Japanese spotted fever (JSF; a spotted fever group rickettsiosis) are tick-borne zoonoses that are becoming a...
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and Japanese spotted fever (JSF; a spotted fever group rickettsiosis) are tick-borne zoonoses that are becoming a significant public health threat in Japan and East Asia. Strategies for treatment and infection control differ between the two; therefore, initial differential diagnosis is important. We aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of SFTS and JSF based on symptomology, physical examination, laboratory data, and radiography findings at admission. This retrospective study included patients with SFTS and JSF treated at five hospitals in Nagasaki Prefecture, western Japan, between 2013 and 2020. Data from 23 patients with SFTS and 38 patients with JSF were examined for differentiating factors and were divided by 7:3 into a training cohort and a validation cohort. Decision tree analysis revealed leukopenia (white blood cell [WBC] < 4000/μL) and altered mental status as the best differentiating factors (AUC 1.000) with 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Using only physical examination factors, absence of skin rash and altered mental status resulted in the best differentiating factors with AUC 0.871, 71.4% sensitivity, and 90.0% specificity. When treating patients with suspected tick-borne infection, WBC < 4000/µL, absence of skin rash, and altered mental status are very useful to differentiate SFTS from JSF.
Topics: Animals; Exanthema; Humans; Japan; Leukopenia; Phlebovirus; Retrospective Studies; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome; Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis
PubMed: 36016429
DOI: 10.3390/v14081807 -
Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi =... Jul 2023To understand the epidemiological characteristics of tick-borne infectious diseases (TBID) and the risk factors of severe illness and death in Hubei Province from 2016...
To understand the epidemiological characteristics of tick-borne infectious diseases (TBID) and the risk factors of severe illness and death in Hubei Province from 2016 to 2021. Based on the incidence data of fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), tsutsugamushi disease, typhus and other TBID reported during 2016-2021, the epidemiological analysis was conducted. Field investigation results of TBID in areas with high incidence in 2021, logistic regression analysis of population characteristics, epidemiological history and other factors were used to explore the risk factors of severe and fatal cases. In the field vector investigation, free ticks and surface ticks of the host animals in the cases' home and surrounding grassland were monitored and detected. A total of 3 826 TBID cases were reported in Hubei from 2016 to 2021, of which 71.30% (2 728/3 826) were SFTS, 13.04% (499/3 826) were tsutsugamushi disease and 15.66% (599/3 826) were typhus. A total of 44 cases died in 6 years; the fatality rate was 1.15% (44/3 826). In the peak seasons of incidence from May to July, the cases in people engaged in agriculture related work accounted for 84.61% (3 237/3 826). The incidence rate in women was higher than that in men, and the cases aged ≥50 years accounted for 81.02% of the total (3 100/3 826), and the incidence rate increased with age (<0.001). The TBID cases were distributed in 86 counties and districts in 16 prefectures (municipality). The incidence rates of different areas had significant differences (<0.05), and there was a certain spatial-temporal clustering and expasion. and were captured in the field, and the positive rates in host animals and grassland ticks were 10.94% (7/64) and 40.00% (2/5), respectively. Univariate logistic regression analysis results showed that age ≥50 years and leukocyte <2.0×10/L were risk factors for severe illness and death. The TBID reported in Hubei were mainly SFTS, tsutsugamushi disease and typhus. In order to reduce the incidence of TBID, it is necessary to strengthen the prevention and control in women aged ≥50 years and reduce field exposure and tick bites during the epidemic period.
Topics: Animals; Female; Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne; Scrub Typhus; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome; Ticks; Communicable Diseases; Phlebovirus; China; Tick-Borne Diseases
PubMed: 37482709
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112338-20221009-00866 -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Aug 2020Toscana virus is an arbovirus transmitted by sand flies within the Mediterranean area where it can cause febrile illness and neuroinvasive infections during the seasonal... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Toscana virus is an arbovirus transmitted by sand flies within the Mediterranean area where it can cause febrile illness and neuroinvasive infections during the seasonal circulation period of the vector. Although it is an important cause of meningitis and encephalitis, it remains a neglected virus with limited published data, as demonstrated by <250 peer-reviewed articles since the 1970s.
OBJECTIVE
The last review article on Toscana virus was published in 2012. The aim was to compile peer-reviewed articles to provide an updated review highlighting recent findings to complement previous review articles.
SOURCES
PubMed database was searched using the 'Toscana virus' keyword from 2010 to present. A total of 152 articles were retrieved and identified studies were assessed for novel information on virus genetics, and geographic and medical aspects compared with existing knowledge reported in previous review articles.
CONTENT
Studies addressing medical, veterinary and entomological aspects have provided evidence that Toscana virus is present in North Africa, in the Balkan Peninsula, and in most of the Mediterranean islands. Besides the two previously recognized genetic lineages, a novel evolutionary lineage has been identified in the Balkan Peninsula. Co-circulation of two genetic lineages has been demonstrated in France, in Turkey and in Croatia. In addition to meningitis and meningo-encephalitis, which have been reported for 40 years, various neuroinvasive forms have been recently reported such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, hydrocephalus, myositis, fasciitis, polymyeloradiculopathy, deafness and facial paralysis.
IMPLICATION
Because it is endemic in countries bordering the Mediterranean, physicians should include Toscana virus in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with febrile illness and/or neurological manifestations.
Topics: Africa, Northern; Animals; Balkan Peninsula; Bunyaviridae Infections; Diagnosis, Differential; Endemic Diseases; Humans; Insect Vectors; Mediterranean Region; Phylogeography; Psychodidae; Sandfly fever Naples virus
PubMed: 31904562
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2019.12.015 -
Microbiome Feb 2024Haemaphysalis longicornis is drawing attentions for its geographic invasion, extending population, and emerging disease threat. However, there are still substantial gaps...
BACKGROUND
Haemaphysalis longicornis is drawing attentions for its geographic invasion, extending population, and emerging disease threat. However, there are still substantial gaps in our knowledge of viral composition in relation to genetic diversity of H. longicornis and ecological factors, which are important for us to understand interactions between virus and vector, as well as between vector and ecological elements.
RESULTS
We conducted the meta-transcriptomic sequencing of 136 pools of H. longicornis and identified 508 RNA viruses of 48 viral species, 22 of which have never been reported. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrion sequences divided the ticks into two genetic clades, each of which was geographically clustered and significantly associated with ecological factors, including altitude, precipitation, and normalized difference vegetation index. The two clades showed significant difference in virome diversity and shared about one fifth number of viral species that might have evolved to "generalists." Notably, Bandavirus dabieense, the pathogen of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome was only detected in ticks of clade 1, and half number of clade 2-specific viruses were aquatic-animal-associated.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings highlight that the virome diversity is shaped by internal genetic evolution and external ecological landscape of H. longicornis and provide the new foundation for promoting the studies on virus-vector-ecology interaction and eventually for evaluating the risk of H. longicornis for transmitting the viruses to humans and animals. Video Abstract.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Ixodidae; Haemaphysalis longicornis; Virome; Phylogeny; Phlebovirus; Ticks
PubMed: 38378577
DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01753-9 -
Journal of Medical Virology Aug 2021Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is recognized as an emerging infectious disease. This study aimed to investigate the pathogenic mechanism of SFTS. A...
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is recognized as an emerging infectious disease. This study aimed to investigate the pathogenic mechanism of SFTS. A total of 100 subjects were randomly included in the study. Cytokine levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the viral load was detected by micro drop digital PCR. The results showed that levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, IFN-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted factor (RANTES) differed significantly among the SFTS patient group, healthy people group, and asymptomatic infection group (p < .05). Compared to the healthy people group, the patient group had increased cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-10, IP-10, MCP-1, and IFN-γ) but reduced levels of IL-8, TGF-β1, and RANTES (p < .0167). IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α, TGF-β1, and the RANTES levels had different trends after the onset of the disease. IL-6, IL-10, IP-10, and MCP-1 levels in severe patients were higher than those in mild patients (p < .05). There was a positive correlation between viral load and IL-6 and IP-10 but a negative correlation between viral load and RANTES. SFTSV could cause a cytokine change: the cytokine levels of patients had different degrees of fluctuation after the onset of the disease. The levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in the asymptomatic infection group were found between the SFTS patients group and the healthy people group. The levels of IL-6, IL-10, IP-10, and MCP-1 in the serum could reflect the severity of the disease, and the levels of IL-6, IP-10, and RANTES were correlated with the viral load.
Topics: Aged; Cytokines; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Phlebovirus; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome; Severity of Illness Index; Viral Load
PubMed: 33590892
DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26877 -
Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi =... Jun 2022To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in China from 2011 to 2021, and provide evidence for the prevention...
To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in China from 2011 to 2021, and provide evidence for the prevention and control of SFTS. The incidence data of SFTS were collected from the National Disease Reporting Information System of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention for a descriptive epidemiological analysis and Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to evaluate the association between age and the morbidity rate and case fatality rate (CFR) of SFTS. From 2011 to 2021, a total of 18 902 laboratory confirmed cases of SFTS, including 966 deaths, were reported in 533 counties (districts) of 154 prefecture-level cities in 27 provinces. The annual average morbidity rate was 0.125/100 000, and the annual average CFR was 5.11%. From 2011 to 2021 the overall morbidity rate of SFTS was in increase with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) of 14.80% (=0.001). Most cases (99.23%) occurred in 7 provinces, including Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Hubei, Liaoning, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, with 70.28% of the cases in 11 prefecture-level cities. The average annual CFRs in the 7 provinces varied greatly from 1.30% to 11.27%. In 2011, SFTS cases were reported in 108 counties (districts) of 51 prefecture-level cities in 13 provinces, but SFTS cases were reported in 277 counties (districts) of 88 prefecture-level cities in 19 provinces in 2021, the disease spread from central area to the northeast and from the west and the south. SFTS mainly occurred in summer and autumn in both southern and northern China, and 96.63% of the cases were reported from April to October, and the incidence peak was during May-June. The cases mainly occurred in age group 50-74 years (69.46%), and the deaths mainly occurred in age group ≥60 years (79.71%). Both the morbidity rate and the CFR increased with age. The morbidity rate increased from 0.040/100 000 in age group 0-4 years to 4.480/100 000 in age group ≥80 years in males (²=13 185.21, <0.001) and from 0.038/100 000 in age group 0-4 years to 3.318/100 000 in age group ≥80 years in females (²=12 939.83, <0.001); the CFR increased from 0.70% in age group 30-34 years to 11.58% in age group ≥80 years in males (²=115.70, <0.001) and from 1.56% in age group 35-39 years to 8.98% in age group ≥80 years in females (²=103.42, <0.001). From 2011 to 2021, the incidence of SFTS increased in China, and the spread and obvious spatiotemporal distribution of SFTS were observed. The reported CFR varied greatly with area, and both the morbidity and mortality risk were high in the elderly.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child, Preschool; China; Female; Fever; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Middle Aged; Phlebovirus; Seasons; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome
PubMed: 35725341
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112338-20220325-00228