ABSTRACT
Toscana virus (TOSV), a sandfly-borne phlebovirus, is an important agent of human meningoencephalitis in the Mediterranean region, for which vertebrates acting as reservoirs have not yet been determined. This study investigates TOSV and Leishmania infections in dogs, cats, sheep, and goats from Adana and Mersin provinces in southeastern Turkey. TOSV neutralizing antibodies were demonstrated in 40.4% of the dog and 4% of the goat samples. TOSV RNA was detected in 9.9% of the 252 samples that mainly comprise dogs (96%). Thus, canine species can be suggested as the candidate reservoirs of TOSV. Partial sequences revealed the activity of TOSV genotypes A and B. In two dogs presenting with symptoms of canine leishmaniasis, infections of TOSV genotype B and Leishmania infantum have been documented, describing the first report of coinfections with these agents.
Subject(s)
Bunyaviridae Infections/epidemiology , Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Leishmania infantum/isolation & purification , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/epidemiology , Meningoencephalitis/epidemiology , Sandfly fever Naples virus/immunology , Animals , Antibodies, Neutralizing/analysis , Antibodies, Viral/analysis , Base Sequence , Bunyaviridae Infections/complications , Bunyaviridae Infections/virology , Cats , Coinfection , Disease Reservoirs , Dog Diseases/parasitology , Dog Diseases/virology , Dogs , Genotype , Geography , Goats , Humans , Leishmania infantum/genetics , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/complications , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/parasitology , Meningoencephalitis/complications , Meningoencephalitis/virology , Molecular Sequence Data , Psychodidae/virology , RNA, Viral/chemistry , RNA, Viral/genetics , Sandfly fever Naples virus/genetics , Sandfly fever Naples virus/isolation & purification , Sequence Analysis, RNA , Sheep , Turkey/epidemiologyABSTRACT
West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus with significant impact on human and animal health, has recently demonstrated an expanded zone of activity globally. The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency and distribution of WNV infections in potential vectors and several mammal and avian species in Turkey, where previous data indicate viral circulation. The study was conducted in 15 provinces across Turkey during 2011-2013. In addition, the entomological study was extended to 4 districts of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. WNV exposure was determined in humans, horses, sheep and ducks from Mersin, Sanliurfa, Van and Kars provinces of Turkey, via the detection of neutralizing antibodies. WNV RNA was sought in human and equine samples from Mersin, Adana and Mugla provinces. Field-collected mosquitoes from 92 sites at 46 locations were characterized morphologically and evaluated for viral RNA. Neutralizing antibodies were identified in 10.5% of the 1180 samples studied and detected in all species evaluated. Viral nucleic acids were observed in 5.9% of 522 samples but only in horses. A total of 2642 mosquito specimens belonging to 15 species were captured, where Ochlerotatus caspius (52.4%), Culex pipiens sensu lato (24.2%) comprise the most frequent species. WNV RNA was detected in 4 mosquito pools (1.9%), that comprise Oc. caspius Cx. pipiens s.l. and DNA barcoding revealed the presence of Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. perexiguus mosquitoes in infected Culex pools. All WNV partial sequences were characterized as lineage 1 clade 1a. These findings indicate a widespread WNV activity in Turkey, in Eastern Thrace and Mediterranean-Aegean regions as well as Southeastern and Northeastern Anatolia.