Serological and molecular detection of Toscana and other Phleboviruses in patients and sandflies in Tunisia.

ABSTRACT: Our aim is to detect the infection by Toscana virus (TOSV) and other Phleboviruses in the sera and cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) of patients with meningitis in Tunisia. We examined various species of phlebotomus present in Tunisia to determine whether or not a direct relationship exists between cases of meningitis and the viruses circulating in the insect vectors.Patients with the meningeal syndrome were tested for anti-TOSV IgM and IgG using an indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and for the presence of TOSV and other Phleboviruses using a RT-PCR test.Of 263 patients were tested using ELISA of which 12.16% (n?=?32/263) were IgM positive for anti TOSV. Of these 32 patients, 78% (n?=?25/32) were IgG positive. 12.86% (n?=?18/140) of the CSF samples tested by RT-PCR were positive for the Toscana virus.This study confirms, for the first time, that TOSV is involved in a neurological disorder in North Africa. The incidence of this involvement in Tunisia conforms with observations made in other Mediterranean countries. Moreover, for the first time, a molecular approach was used to detect SFSV in a Tunisian patient displaying neurological symptoms.

SUBMITTER: Fezaa O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4236749 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature