[Meningoencephalitis caused by Toscana virus in Czech travelers returning from the Mediterranean]. / Meningoencefalitidy zpusobené virem Toscana u ceských cestovatelu po návratu ze Stredomorí.

Presented are case studies of 3 patients with aseptic meninogencephalitis occurring after returning from the Mediterranean tourist regions. None of the infectious agents common in aseptic neuroinfections in the Czech Republic was detected in the patients. Serological tests showed that in each case, the illness was caused by Toscana virus, a phlebovirus belonging to the family Bunyaviridae. The virus is transmitted by tiny biting insects of the genus Phlebotomus commonly present in the Mediterranean area. The course of the disease was mild to moderate and all the patients recovered without sequelae. These case reports document the fact that this arbovirus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with aseptic neuroinfections returning from endemic areas of this virus.