Abstract
Toscana virus (TOSV) is a Phlebovirus transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies and is an important etiological agent of summer meningitis in the Mediterranean basin. Since TOSV infection is often asymptomatic, we evaluated the seroprevalence in blood donors (BDs) in the Bologna and Ferrara provinces (Northeastern Italy)—the areas with the highest and lowest numbers of TOSV neuroinvasive cases in the region, respectively. A total of 1208 serum samples from BDs were collected in April–June 2014 and evaluated for the presence of specific TOSV-IgG by ELISA. The IgG-reactive samples were confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIF) and by microneutralization test (MN). Serum samples were defined as positive for anti-TOSV IgG when reactive by ELISA and by at least one second-level test; TOSV seroprevalence was 6.8% in the Bologna province, while no circulation of TOSV was detected in the Ferrara province. Sand fly abundance in 2014 was also estimated by a geographic information system using a generalized linear model applied to a series of explanatory variables. TOSV seroprevalence rate was strongly associated with the sand fly abundance index in each municipality, pointing out the strong association between sand fly abundance and human exposure to TOSV.
Highlights
Toscana virus (TOSV) is an arthropod-borne virus belonging to the Phlebovirus genus of the Phenuiviridae family; this virus is transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies, mainly Phlebotomus perfiliewi, Ph. perniciosus, and Ph. tobbi in Europe [1,2,3]
We explored the association between the observed TOSV seroprevalence and the estimated sand fly abundance in the study area
Among the 151 ELISA reactive sera coming from Bologna province, 59 showed specific antibody by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIF) and 61 by microneutralization test (MN), with neutralizing antibody titers ranging from 1/40 to 1/160
Summary
Toscana virus (TOSV) is an arthropod-borne virus belonging to the Phlebovirus genus of the Phenuiviridae family; this virus is transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies, mainly Phlebotomus perfiliewi, Ph. perniciosus, and Ph. tobbi in Europe [1,2,3]. In the Mediterranean area, phleboviruses transmitted by sand flies belong to one of the following groups: (i) two International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) recognized species, i.e., sandfly fever Naples (including TOSV and Naples virus) and Salehabad (including Salehabad and Arbia viruses) and (ii) two tentative species, i.e., sandfly fever Sicilian virus and Corfou virus [7]. Besides TOSV, the sandfly fever Sicilian (SFSV) and sandfly fever Naples (SFNV) viruses exhibit the widest geographical distribution within the Mediterranean region, which is likely related to the wide distribution of their proven vector (Ph. papatasi) in this area [4,8,9,10]. From the location comes the provisional denomination of sandfly fever Cyprus virus (SFCV) [13,14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
