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Viruses Oct 2023Fermo virus is a that is increasingly reported in sand flies from northern Italy. The natural cycle is not fully understood, but the virus has been detected by direct...
Fermo virus is a that is increasingly reported in sand flies from northern Italy. The natural cycle is not fully understood, but the virus has been detected by direct methods only in sand flies. Although there is serological evidence that it can infect vertebrates, the virus has not been directly detected in animals or humans. Here, we have developed and reported a specific real-time PCR for Fermo virus. The availability of the described method will be useful to characterize the epidemiology of the FERV, ensuring, compared to previously available protocols, a more sensitive detection in insects and the possible detection in vertebrates to evaluate the presence of reservoirs and the pathogenic potential of the virus in humans or animals.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Phlebovirus; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Psychodidae; Italy
PubMed: 37896859
DOI: 10.3390/v15102082 -
Parasites & Vectors Dec 2014Phlebotomine sandflies are vectors of several pathogens with significant impact for public health. This study was conducted to investigate and characterize phlebovirus...
BACKGROUND
Phlebotomine sandflies are vectors of several pathogens with significant impact for public health. This study was conducted to investigate and characterize phlebovirus and Leishmania infections in vector sandflies collected in the eastern Thrace region in Turkey and Northern Cyprus, where previous data indicate activity of these agents.
METHODS
Field sampling of sandflies was performed at 4 locations in Edirne and Tekirdag provinces of eastern Thrace and at 17 locations in Lefkosa, Girne, Magosa and Guzelyurt provinces of northern Cyprus. In sandfly pools, phlebovirus RNA and Leishmania DNA were screened via a generic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and kinetoplast minicircle PCR, respectively. Selected sandfly specimens unsuitable for pathogen detection were identified to species level. Cytochrome oxidase 1 gene region was used for DNA barcoding of selected specimens and pathogen positive pools. Positive amplicons were cloned and characterized by sequencing.
RESULTS
A total of 2690 sandflies, collected from Eastern Thrace (15.4%) and Northern Cyprus (84.6%) were evaluated. Morphological examination of 780 specimens from Cyprus exhibited Phlebotomus perfiliewi sensu lato (72.6%), Phlebotomus tobbi (19.7%), Phlebotomus papatasi (2.8%), Laroussius sp. (1.6%) and Sergentomyia azizi (1.6%), Sergentomyia sp. (0.9%), Sergentomyia minuta (0.5%) and Phleobotomus jacusieli (0.1%) species. Pathogen screening was performed in 1910 specimens distributed in 195 pools. In eight pools of P.tobbi sandflies collected in Cyprus, Leishmania infantum DNA was demonstrated. Toscana virus (TOSV) genotype A sequences were identified in two pools of P. perfiliewi s.l. and one pool of P.tobbi sandflies from Cyprus. Co-infection of TOSV and Leishmania infantum was characterized in a P.tobbi pool. Sequences belonging to novel phleboviruses are revealed in three P. perfiliewi s.l. pools. One sequence, provisionally named Edirne virus, identified in Edirne province in eastern Thrace, demonstrated the highest rate of genomic similarity to Adria and Salehabad viruses. Furthermore, Girne 1 and Girne 2 viruses, identified in Girne province, revealed similarities to TOSV and Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus and related strains, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Activity of TOSV genotype A strains in Cyprus and co-infection of sandfly vectors with L. infantum was documented for the first time. Novel phlebovirus strains of unknown medical significance was identified in sampling regions.
Topics: Animals; Cyprus; Insect Vectors; Leishmania; Molecular Sequence Data; Phlebotomus; Phlebovirus; Phylogeny; Turkey
PubMed: 25499083
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-014-0575-6 -
Viruses Aug 2019We screened ticks and human clinical specimens to detect and characterize tick phleboviruses and pathogenicity in vertebrates. Ticks were collected at locations in...
We screened ticks and human clinical specimens to detect and characterize tick phleboviruses and pathogenicity in vertebrates. Ticks were collected at locations in Istanbul (Northwest Anatolia, Thrace), Edirne, Kırklareli, and Tekirdağ (Thrace), Mersin (Mediterranean Anatolia), Adiyaman and Şanlıurfa (Southeastern Anatolia) provinces from 2013-2018 and were analyzed following morphological identification and pooling. Specimens from individuals with febrile disease or meningoencephalitic symptoms of an unknown etiology were also evaluated. The pools were screened via generic tick phlebovirus amplification assays and products were sequenced. Selected pools were used for cell culture and suckling mice inoculations and next generation sequencing (NGS). A total of 7492 ticks were screened in 609 pools where 4.2% were positive. A phylogenetic sequence clustering according to tick species was observed. No human samples were positive. NGS provided near-complete viral replicase coding sequences in three pools. A comprehensive analysis revealed three distinct, monophyletic virus genotypes, comprised of previously-described viruses from Anatolia and the Balkans, with unique fingerprints in conserved amino acid motifs in viral replicase. A novel tick phlebovirus group was discovered circulating in the Balkans and Turkey, with at least three genotypes or species. No evidence for replication in vertebrates or infections in clinical cases could be demonstrated.
Topics: Animals; Chlorocebus aethiops; Genotype; Humans; Mice; Phlebovirus; Phylogeny; RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase; Ticks; Turkey; Vero Cells; Viral Proteins
PubMed: 31374842
DOI: 10.3390/v11080703 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Dec 2015
Topics: Animals; Australia; Bird Diseases; Birds; Bunyaviridae Infections; Humans; Phlebovirus; Phylogeny; Ticks
PubMed: 26583599
DOI: 10.3201/eid2112.141303 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Apr 2019We describe a novel virus, designated Ntepes virus (NPV), isolated from sand flies in Kenya. NPV has the characteristic phlebovirus trisegmented genome architecture and...
We describe a novel virus, designated Ntepes virus (NPV), isolated from sand flies in Kenya. NPV has the characteristic phlebovirus trisegmented genome architecture and is related to, but distinct from, Gabek Forest phlebovirus. Diverse cell cultures derived from wildlife, livestock, and humans were susceptible to NPV, with pronounced permissiveness in swine and rodent cells. NPV infection of newborn mice caused rapid and fatal illness. Permissiveness for NPV replication in sand fly cells, but not mosquito cells, suggests a vector-specific adaptation. Specific neutralizing antibodies were found in 13.9% (26/187) of human serum samples taken at the site of isolation of NPV as well as a disparate site in northeastern Kenya, suggesting a wide distribution. We identify a novel human-infecting arbovirus and highlight the importance of rural areas in tropical Africa for arbovirus surveillance as well as extending arbovirus surveillance to include hematophagous arthropods other than mosquitoes.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Antibodies, Viral; Bunyaviridae Infections; Cell Line; Child; Female; Genome, Insect; Genome, Viral; Genomics; Geography, Medical; Humans; Insect Vectors; Kenya; Male; Mice; Phlebovirus; Phylogeny; Psychodidae; Public Health Surveillance; Young Adult
PubMed: 30882303
DOI: 10.3201/eid2504.180750 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Sep 2018Two captive cheetahs from a zoo in Japan died of a severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome-like illness. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, an...
Two captive cheetahs from a zoo in Japan died of a severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome-like illness. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, an endemic tickborne phlebovirus, was detected systemically with secretion of infectious viruses into the saliva. These cases highlight the risk for exposure of captive animals to endemic arthropodborne pathogens.
Topics: Acinonyx; Animals; Animals, Zoo; Bunyaviridae Infections; Diagnosis, Differential; Fatal Outcome; Female; Japan; Male; Phlebovirus; Phylogeny; Tick-Borne Diseases
PubMed: 30124411
DOI: 10.3201/eid2409.171667 -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Apr 2011Sandflies were collected in two districts of Albania and tested for a probable phlebovirus infection. A novel phlebovirus, provisionally named Adria virus, was detected...
Sandflies were collected in two districts of Albania and tested for a probable phlebovirus infection. A novel phlebovirus, provisionally named Adria virus, was detected in 2/12 pools, both trapped in a region close to the Adriatic Sea. The new virus is genetically closer (similarity 77.1% at nucleotide level) to Arbia virus, which belongs to the Salehabad serocomplex. Its distribution and probable pathogenicity to humans remain to be elucidated.
Topics: Albania; Animals; Cluster Analysis; Female; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Phlebovirus; Phylogeny; Psychodidae; RNA, Viral; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology
PubMed: 21414085
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2010.03371.x -
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Jan 2017In the last decade, various research groups have reported a large diversity of new tick-borne phleboviruses, mostly prompted by the discovery of important human...
In the last decade, various research groups have reported a large diversity of new tick-borne phleboviruses, mostly prompted by the discovery of important human pathogens such as the Heartland and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome viruses. Since these analyses have rarely been conducted using ticks collected from Southern Europe, this study was carried out so as to bring new insights into the diversity of phleboviruses circulating in Southern Portugal. Tick specimens were collected from the vegetation (questing ticks) or directly from animals (feeding ticks), and the majority analysed in pools using a detection strategy targeting the large (L) viral genomic segment. A high number of pools revealed the presence of phebovirus sequences, regardless of gender (male/female), origin (questing/feeding) or even species of the tick analysed. These sequences apparently formed three different groups in phylogenetic trees, and encoded L proteins characterized by group-specific amino acid residues. Furthermore, under the conditions used, these viruses failed to replicate in both Vero and DH82 cells. The impact these viruses may have on human/animal health will be addressed in the future.
Topics: Animals; Cell Line; Ixodidae; Phlebovirus; Portugal
PubMed: 27717757
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.09.015 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Jun 2014Recently discovered tick-borne phleboviruses have been associated with severe disease and death among persons in Asia and the United States. We report the discovery of a...
Recently discovered tick-borne phleboviruses have been associated with severe disease and death among persons in Asia and the United States. We report the discovery of a novel tick phlebovirus in Tasmania State, Australia, that is closely related to those zoonotic viruses found in Asia and North America.
Topics: Animals; Bird Diseases; Birds; Disease Outbreaks; Disease Vectors; Genome, Viral; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Humans; Phlebotomus Fever; Phlebovirus; Phylogeny; RNA, Viral; Tasmania; Ticks
PubMed: 24856477
DOI: 10.3201/eid2006.140003 -
Virology Journal May 2020Tick-borne phenuivirus (TBPVs) comprise human and animal viruses that can cause a variety of clinical syndromes ranging from self-limiting febrile illness to fatal...
BACKGROUND
Tick-borne phenuivirus (TBPVs) comprise human and animal viruses that can cause a variety of clinical syndromes ranging from self-limiting febrile illness to fatal haemorrhagic fevers.
OBJECTIVE
Detect Phlebovirus (Family Phenuiviridae) in ticks collected from domestic animals in Córdoba, Colombia.
METHODS
We collected 2365 ticks from domestic animals in three municipalities of the Department of Cordoba, Colombia in 2016. Ticks were identified and pooled by species for RNA extraction. A nested real-time PCR with specific primers for Phlebovirus and a specific probe for Heartland virus (HRTV) formerly a Phlebovirus, now a Banyangvirus were performed. Also, a conventional nested PCR, with the same specific primers was used to detect other Phleboviruses, with positive reactions indicated by an amplified cDNA fragment of approximately 244 bp determined by gel electrophoresis. These bands were gel-purified and sequenced by the Sanger method.
RESULTS
Using real-time RT-PCR, no positive results for HRTV were found. However, using conventional nested PCR 2.2% (5/229 pools) yielded a product of 244 bp. One positive sample was detected in a pool of Dermacentor nitens ticks collected from a horse, and the four remaining positive pools were from Rhipicephalus microplus collected from cattle. The five positive nucleotide sequences had identities of 93 to 96% compared to a section of the L-segment of Lihan Tick virus, a Phlebovirus originally detected in R. microplus ticks in China. The strongest identity (96-99%) was with Lihan Tick virus detected in R. microplus ticks from Brazil.
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of viral detection in ticks in Colombia. We detected a Colombian strain of Lihan Tick virus. We recommend expanding the sampling area and carrying out more eco-epidemiological studies related to epidemiological surveillance of viruses on ticks in Colombia.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Cattle; Colombia; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dermacentor; Dogs; Horses; Phlebovirus; Phylogeny; Prospective Studies; RNA Viruses; Rhipicephalus; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Ticks
PubMed: 32370779
DOI: 10.1186/s12985-020-01327-9