Rapid identification of Toscana virus by nested PCR during an outbreak in the Siena area of Italy

J Clin Microbiol. 1996 Oct;34(10):2500-2. doi: 10.1128/jcm.34.10.2500-2502.1996.

Abstract

The sand fly-transmitted Toscana virus is recognized as an etiologic agent of an aseptic meningitis with a long convalescence. This infection has been reported overall in many tourists or in a seronegative population circulating in endemic Mediterranean areas (Italy, Portugal, Egypt, and Cyprus). We report a cluster of acute Toscana virus infections in the local population during the summer of 1995. Twenty-one clinical cases of meningitis were investigated for the presence of Toscana virus by nested PCR performed on the S segment of the virus RNA extracted from cerebrospinal fluid samples.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Bunyaviridae / genetics
  • Bunyaviridae / isolation & purification*
  • Bunyaviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Bunyaviridae Infections / virology*
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Viral / epidemiology
  • Meningitis, Viral / virology*
  • Middle Aged