Toscana virus in Spain

Emerg Infect Dis. 2005 Nov;11(11):1701-7. doi: 10.3201/eid1111.050851.

Abstract

Toscana virus (TOSV, Phlebovirus, family Bunyaviridae) infection is one of the most prevalent arboviruses in Spain. Within the objectives of a multidisciplinary network, a study on the epidemiology of TOSV was conducted in Granada, in southern Spain. The overall seroprevalence rate was 24.9%, significantly increasing with age. TOSV was detected in 3 of 103 sandfly pools by viral culture or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction from a region of the L gene. Nucleotide sequence homology was 99%-100% in TOSV from vectors and patients and 80%-81% compared to the Italian strain ISS Phl.3. Sequencing of the N gene of TOSV isolates from patients and vectors indicated 87%-88% and 100% homology at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively, compared to the Italian strain. These findings demonstrate the circulation of at least 2 different lineages of TOSV in the Mediterranean basin, the Italian lineage and the Spanish lineage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Insect Vectors / virology*
  • Male
  • Phlebotomus / virology*
  • Phlebotomus Fever / epidemiology*
  • Phlebotomus Fever / virology
  • Phylogeny
  • Prevalence
  • Sandfly fever Naples virus / classification
  • Sandfly fever Naples virus / genetics
  • Sandfly fever Naples virus / immunology*
  • Sandfly fever Naples virus / isolation & purification*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Viral Proteins