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

Abstract

Background: Phlebotomine sandflies are vectors of several pathogens with significant impact for public health. This study was conducted to investigate and characterize phlebovirus and Leishmania infections in vector sandflies collected in the eastern Thrace region in Turkey and Northern Cyprus, where previous data indicate activity of these agents. Methods: Field sampling of sandflies was performed at 4 locations in Edirne and Tekirdag provinces of eastern Thrace and at 17 locations in Lefkosa, Girne, Magosa and Guzelyurt provinces of northern Cyprus. In sandfly pools, phlebovirus RNA and Leishmania DNA were screened via a generic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and kinetoplast minicircle PCR, respectively. Selected sandfly specimens unsuitable for pathogen detection were identified to species level. Cytochrome oxidase 1 gene region was used for DNA barcoding of selected specimens and pathogen positive pools. Positive amplicons were cloned and characterized by sequencing.

Isolation, full genomic characterization and neutralization-based human seroprevalence of Medjerda Valley virus, a novel sandfly-borne phlebovirus belonging to the Salehabad virus complex in northern Tunisia

“…Recent molecular data support the circulation of other potential viruses in the Salehabad virus group (Fig. 1): (i) in Albania, sequences of ADRV were detected from sandflies ; (ii) in Greece, one case of meningitis was attributed to ADRV in a patient with no history of travelling abroad (Anagnostou et al, 2011); (iii) in northwestern Turkey (eastern Thrace), sequences of Edirne virus were detected in sandflies (Ergunay et al, 2014). However, these viruses remain to be isolated.…”

Sandfly-Borne Phlebovirus Isolations from Turkey: New Insight into the Sandfly fever Sicilian and Sandfly fever Naples Species

“…To date these limited genetic data, preclude classification by ICTV. This situation applies for viruses that may belong to (i) the SFNV species such as FERV [ 2 ], Provincia virus [ 48 ], Girne1 virus [ 18 ], and Saddaguia virus [ 45 ], (ii) the SALV species such as Adria virus [ 46 , 47 ] Olbia virus [ 48 ] and Edirne virus [ 18 ], and to (iii) the SFSV / CFUV complex such as Chios virus (Papa and Pavlidou, 2003, Genbank no, AY293623), Utique virus [ 4 ], Girne2 virus [ 18 ], SFS-like viruses [ 4 , 42 , 43 , 49 ]. Accordingly, although our knowledge of sandfly-borne phleboviruses is more extensive than it was a half-decade ago; efforts to isolate virus strains and determine their complete sequence should continue.…”

“…Recently, serological investigations were carried out in the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Central Anatolian regions, where outbreaks have occurred and circulation of SFSV and a SFS-like virus (Sandfly Fever Turkey virus (SFTV)) were reported [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. The presence of TOSV was confirmed serologically and through RNA detection and sequencing [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Despite the publication of many articles, virus isolations were reported only for SFTV from a patient [ 13 ] and Adana virus (ADAV) [ 20 ] from sandflies.…”

Sandfly-Borne Viruses of Demonstrated/Relevant Medical Importance

“…During the last decade, the Salehabad virus species which contained initially only Salehabad and Arbia viruses has greatly increased by addition of newly discovered viruses such as Adana virus, Alcube virus and Medjerda Valley virus, respectively, isolated from sandflies collected in Turkey, Portugal and Tunisia [37][38][39][40]106]. Several other viruses were not isolated but discovered through sequencing a part of their genome such as Adria virus (Albania and Greece), Edirne virus (Turkey) and Olbia virus (France) [23,39,107,108]. To date, Adria virus is the only virus belonging to the Salehabad species that was associated with a case of human disease.…”