Abstract
Sandfly-borne phleboviruses pathogenic to humans, such as Toscana virus (TOSV) and Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV), are endemic in the Mediterranean region. In France, several autochthonous cases of TOSV infection have been described, causing either meningitis or encephalitis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence of TOSV and SFSV antibodies in a healthy population from Corsica. In this cross-sectional study, participants were enrolled (i) from a medical staff at the University of Corsica and (ii) from general practitioners of the Corsican Sentinelles Network. The seroprevalence study was based on a virus microneutralization assay. A total of 240 sera were tested. Altogether, 54 sera (22.5%) were confirmed positive for TOSV antibodies, whereas none were positive for SFSV (0/240). The residential district of participants was significantly associated with TOSV seropositivity (p value = 0.005). The rate of the seropositivity against TOSV in our study suggests that the Corsican population is well exposed to the TOSV. These results encourage the implementation of a systematic surveillance system including entomological, microbiological, and medical aspects for the collection of better information on the diseases that are associated with phleboviruses in Corsica and beyond in the regions where these viruses are present.
Highlights
IntroductionSandfly-borne phleboviruses pathogenic to humans such as Toscana virus (TOSV) and Sandfly
Sandfly-borne phleboviruses pathogenic to humans such as Toscana virus (TOSV) and SandflyFever Sicilian virus (SFSV) are endemic in the Mediterranean region [1,2]
All participant sera were tested for the presence of neutralizing antibodies against TOSV and Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV)
Summary
Sandfly-borne phleboviruses pathogenic to humans such as Toscana virus (TOSV) and Sandfly. Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV) are endemic in the Mediterranean region [1,2]. Most human infections are either asymptomatic or influenza-like syndromes, TOSV has emerged as outbreaks and sporadic cases of acute meningitis or meningoencephalitis. TOSV human cases have been reported in southern European countries such as Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, and France, including most of the Mediterranean islands [3]. In France, the first case of TOSV infection was reported in a German tourist returning from the region of Marseille in southeastern France [5]. Several autochthonous cases of TOSV infection in France have been described, causing either meningitis [6] or encephalitis [7]. Concerning SFSV, low seroprevalence rates of SFSV antibodies were recorded in southwestern France (2%) and in Marseille (1%) among blood donors [9]
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