High prevalence rates of antibody to three sandfly fever viruses (Sicilian, Naples and Toscana) among Cypriots

Abstract

SUMMARYNeutralizing antibodies to sandfly fever Naples, sandfly fever Sicilian and Toscana viruses were investigated among 479 sera collected from a normal human population in Cyprus. Antibody prevalence rates of 57%, 32% and 20% were found to Naples, Sicilian and Toscana viruses, respectively. The observed frequency of dual and triple infections was higher than would be expected with a random chance of infection. Antibody prevalence rates were similar for men and women for all three viruses tested, but one of two study sites had significantly higher antibody prevalence to Naples and Sicilian viruses than the other. Individuals with antibodies to both Naples and Toscana viruses had higher antibody levels to Naples virus than those with antibodies to Naples virus only. If the antibody prevalence rates found in this study reflect a history of clinical disease as described in the literature, sandfly fever poses a significant public health problem in Cyprus.

Serosurvey and laboratory diagnosis of imported sandfly fever virus, serotype Toscana, infection in Germany

“…A recent study showed that TOS is an important agent in virus-associated meningitis and meningoencephalitis in some parts of central Italy [22], and another seroepidemiological study found an antibody prevalence of 20% in the endogenous population of Cyprus [3]. At present, no data on the seroprevalence of antibodies to TOS are available from Spain and Portugal but as clinical infections have been reported from these areas, it is likely that the virus is present.…”

“…Recently, the absence of detectable antibodies in a serum obtained 8 months after sandfly fever virus infection tested by IFA was reported [7]. In testing sera from Cypriots, PRNT was significantly less sensitive in detecting anti-SFS IgG than EIA and IFA [3], and for detecting acute TOS infection, EIA was more sensitive than the haemagglutination-inhibition assay [22]. In the present study, 1P6% of sera from 2034 patients with various diseases were anti-TOS IgG-positive by IgG-IFA, whereas only 0-8 % were reactive by IgG-EIA.…”

“…Three serotypes, Sicilian (SFS), Naples (SFN), and Toscana (TOS), were associated with clinical infections in humans. SFS and SFN infections are endemic in several Mediterranean countries, the Middle East, and Central Asia [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9], and these viruses are transmitted by bites of the insect vector Phiebotomus papatasi (sandfly) [10,11]. In the early 1980s, TOS was isolated in Italy from Phlebotomus perniciosus [5].…”

Performance of Various Commercial Assays for the Detection of Toscana Virus Antibodies

“…In endemic regions, such as countries in the Mediterranean basin, exposure to SFVs is common as revealed by serosurveys, and TOSV infections account for a high proportion of human aseptic meningitis (Eitrem et al 1991a, Nicoletti et al 1996, Hemmersbach-Miller et al 2004, Sanbonmatsu-Gamez et al 2005.…”

Phlebovirus and Leishmania detection in sandflies from eastern Thrace and northern Cyprus

“…Despite the absence of reports involving probable cases in the Turkish Republic of northern Cyprus, virus exposure and seroconversion in a soldier serving in the United Nations forces during 1985 as well as a seroprevalence rate of 20% in a local population were observed in the southern part of the island [41,42]. TOSV is endemic in the Mediterranean region and considered as one of the main central nervous system viral pathogens during sandfly active seasons [1,7].…”