Phylogenetic Analysis of Massilia phlebovirus in Portugal

Amaro, Fátima; Zé-Zé, Líbia; Lourenço, José; Giovanetti, Marta; Becker, Stefanie; Alves, Maria João

doi:10.3390/v13071412

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 42 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…While several sandfly-borne phleboviruses have been detected and/or isolated from sandflies collected from Northern Mediterranean countries, such as Massilia virus (MASV) in France and Portugal [ 9 , 10 ], Granada virus (GRV) in Spain [ 11 ], ADRV in Albania [ 12 ], and Olbia virus (OLV), Provencia virus (PrV), and Fermo virus (FERV) in Italy [ 13 , 14 ] that are members of SFNV and closely related but distinct from TOSV, only limited data are available from North African and the Middle East region. SFSV was detected in sandflies from Algeria [ 15 , 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transmission Dynamics of Punique Virus in Tunisia

Dachraoui

Chelbi

Saïd

et al. 2022

Viruses

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A novel phlebovirus, Punique virus (PUNV), was discovered and isolated in 2008 from sandflies from Northern Tunisia. PUNV is now classified as a unique member of the Punique phlebovirus species within the Phlebovirus genus in the Phenuiviridae family (order bunyavirales). In this study, we aimed to investigate the transmission dynamics of PUNV in Tunisia. Sandflies were collected during two consecutive years, 2009 and 2010, by CDC light traps. In 2009, a total of 873 sandflies were collected and identified to the species level. Phlebotomus perniciosus was the most abundant species. One pool of P. perniciosus females collected in autumn contained PUNV RNA, yielding an infection rate of 0.11%. The population densities of circulating sandfly species were assessed during May–November 2010 in Northern Tunisia by using sticky traps. Phlebotomus (Larroussius) perniciosus (71.74%) was the most abundant species, followed by Phlebotumus (Larroussius) longicuspis (17.47%), and Phlebotumus (Larroussius) perfiliewi (8.82%). The densities of dominant sandfly species were found to peak in early spring and again in the autumn. In 2010, species identification was not performed, and sandflies were only discriminated on the basis of sex and collection date. Out of 249 pools, three contained PUNV RNA. Each positive pool allowed virus isolation. The three pools of female sandflies containing PUNV RNA were collected in autumn with an infection rate of 0.05%. These findings provide further evidence that P. perniciosus is the main vector of PUNV in Tunisia, and this phlebovirus is endemic in Tunisia. Our findings provided strong evidence of intensive circulation of PUNV in sandflies and hosts through a viral infection buildup process between sandfly vectors and hosts starting at the beginning of the activity of sandflies in spring to reach a maximum during the second main peak in autumn.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transmission Dynamics of Punique Virus in Tunisia

Dachraoui

Chelbi

Saïd

et al. 2022

Viruses

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…TOSV is nonetheless considered the most relevant pathogen sandfly-borne phlebovirus, which can cause severe and potentially fatal neuroinvasive disease, responsible for a significant number of neurological disease cases during the summertime [12]. TOSV, Massillia phlebovirus (namely, Arrábida virus and Massillia virus isolates 21, 70, 127, 130) [13][14][15] and Alcube phlebovirus [14] are known to circulate in Portugal, but human infections have only been associated to TOSV and Sicilian phleboviruses [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Identification and Ecology of Portuguese Wild-Caught Phlebotomine Sandfly Specimens

et al. 2022

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Phlebotomine sandflies are important vectors of Leishmania spp. and phleboviruses causing disease in animals and humans. Morphological identification of phlebotomine sandflies to the species level is challenging, requiring microscopical examination of the genitalia, which is demanding and time consuming. Molecular sandfly species identification can be a practical solution to save resources since it enables further molecular studies capable of generating data, such as biting preferences by blood meal analysis. In this study, resorting to a sandfly dataset collected between 2014 and 2018 across Portuguese territory under active mosquito surveillance and sandfly specific surveys, we used molecular methods to explore the genetic diversity and spatial distribution, further exploring ecological co-variants of four sandfly species—Phlebotomus ariasi, P. perniciosus, P. sergenti, and Sergentomyia minuta—all of which are of public health importance. Sandflies were collected from Spring to Autumn (May–November) following local temperature patterns. P. perniciosus was the most widespread detected species, with a nationwide distribution. All studied species clustered together with known samples from the Iberian Peninsula. Further monitoring studies of sandfly species diversity, distribution, and seasonality are essential for surveillance and control of sandfly-borne pathogens both nationally and globally.

show abstract

“…In addition to STNV, we identified a novel tick-borne phlebovirus, STPV. The complete sequence of the RdRp of this novel phlebovirus only shared 50.28% amino acid identity with its closest relative, satisfying the criteria for the definition of novel species within the genus Phlebovirus ( 39 ). There are examples of tick-borne viruses in the family Phenuiviridae which were shown to be pathogenic to humans, such as SFTS virus (genus Banyangvirus ) ( 40 ), Heartland virus (genus Banyangvirus ) ( 41 ), and Tacheng Tick Virus (genus Uukuvirus ) ( 42 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%