Abstract
BackgroundThe distribution of phlebotomine sand flies is changing rapidly due to climate change. This issue has implications for the epidemiology of sand fly-borne diseases, especially sand fly-associated viruses. Few studies concerning sand fly-associated viruses have been conducted in Thailand. Therefore, this study aimed to perform a molecular survey of groups of pathogenic RNA viruses belonging to the Orbivirus, Phlebovirus, and Flavivirus genera and family Rhabdoviridae in sand fly samples collected from southern Thailand.MethodsSand flies were collected at two locations in Trang and Songkhla provinces of southern Thailand, and individual sand fly samples were processed for species identification and virus detection. The Orbivirus, Phlebovirus, and Flavivirus genera and family Rhabdoviridae molecular determination was performed by RT-PCR, and positive samples were identified by cloning and sequencing, cell culture inoculation, and phylogenetic analysis.ResultsThe results presented in this study were based on the analysis of a total of 331 female sand flies. This molecular study revealed evidence of Rhabdoviridae family virus presence in Phlebotomus papatasi (3/331, 0.9%). The findings demonstrated a new cluster of rhabdovirus that was closely related to Bactrocera dorsalis sigmavirus strain BDSV.abc5 and the lineages of insect-specific Rhabdoviridae. In addition, the Bayesian tree suggested that the common ancestor of this group was the dimarhabdovirus clade. It was assumed that the virus may have switched hosts during its evolution. However, the detection of Orbivirus, Phlebovirus, and Flavivirus genera using specific primers for RT-PCR was negative in the collected sand flies.ConclusionsThere is limited knowledge on the genetic diversity and ecology of Rhabdoviridae in Thailand. This is the first data regarding the circulation of Rhabdoviridae in Ph. papatasi from Thailand. We found a new cluster of rhabdoviruses that was close to the new B. dorsalis sigmavirus. It is possible that there is a great deal of diversity in this family yet to be discovered, and a more extensive survey for new rhabdoviruses may uncover viruses from a wide diversity of host taxa and broaden our understanding of the relationships among the Rhabdoviridae.Graphical abstract
Highlights
The distribution of phlebotomine sand flies is changing rapidly due to climate change
The Orbivirus, Phlebovirus, and Flavivirus genera RT-Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were negative in all sand fly samples (Table 1)
No cytopathic effect (CPE) was observed in three positive sand fly samples, and culture supernatants remained negative for the family Rhabdoviridae
Summary
The distribution of phlebotomine sand flies is changing rapidly due to climate change. Similar to the majority of the known dimarhabdoviruses (e.g. genera Sigmavirus, Vesiculovirus, and Ephemerovirus), cytorhabdoviruses, nucleorhabdoviruses, and rhabdoviruses are carried by arthropods [16] Despite their crucial roles in the epidemiology of the disease, in-depth knowledge of sand fly-associated viruses is still scarce. The most recent report found that the Orbivirus genus in Idiophlebotomus spp., Phlebotomus papatasi, and Se. khawi from southern Thailand was closely related to Changuinola virus (CGLV) [18] It is the only report of survey studies of the distribution of sand fly-associated viruses in Thailand. The objective of this study was to survey and screen for the presence of RNA viruses, including the genera Orbivirus, Phlebovirus, and Flavivirus and family Rhabdoviridae, in field-caught sand flies collected from the southern region of Thailand. The impacts of virus screening in sand flies from Thailand can offer an important contribution to the establishment of vector control programs for sand fly-associated viruses in the country and the region
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