Characterization of a sandfly fever Sicilian virus isolated during a sandfly fever epidemic in Turkey

Abstract

Background: Phleboviruses cause sandfly fever but isolates are rare. Objectives: To analyse samples from concurrent outbreaks of suspected sandfly fever in the Mediterranean provinces of Adana, Izmir and the central province of Ankara, Turkey. Study design: Samples from acute cases were analysed by immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Virus isolation was attempted and pyrosequencing performed. Results: In IFA 38% of 106 samples tested scored IgM positive for sandfly fever Sicillian virus (SFSV), 12% for SFSV/sandfly fever Cyprus Virus (SFCV) and only 4% for SFCV. A sandfly fever Sicilian type virus designated sandfly fever Turkey virus (SFTV) was isolated. The S-segment sequence of SFTV had a homology of 98% to that of SFCV. The M-segment sequence showed a 91.1% homology to the only SFSV sequence available. The L-segment sequence showed a homology of 58% and 60.3% to Toscana virus and Rift Valley Fever virus sequences, a partial 201 nt sequence showed 95.5% homology to the SFSV Sabin strain. Conclusion: A new phlebovirus related to sandfly fever Sicilian virus, SFTV was isolated and characterized from acute patient material. The sandfly fever Sicilian virus activity seems to be changing in Turkey. Entomological studies are needed.