title: Human and entomological surveillance of Toscana virus in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy, 2010 to 2012.
abstract: Toscana virus (TOSV), transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies, is recognised as one of the most important causes of viral meningitis in summer in Mediterranean countries. A surveillance plan based on both human and entomological surveys was started in 2010 in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy. Clinical samples from patients with neurological manifestations were collected during 2010 to 2012. The surveillance protocol was improved during these years, allowing the detection of 65 human infections. Most of these infections were recorded in hilly areas, where sandflies reach the highest density. Entomological sampling around the homes of the patients resulted in a low number of captured sandflies, while later sampling in a hilly area with high number of human cases (n=21) resulted in a larger number of captured sandflies. Using this approach, 25,653 sandflies were sampled, of which there were 21,157 females, which were sorted into 287 pools. TOSV RNA was detected by real-time PCR in 33 of the pools. The results highlighted the role of Phlebotomus perfiliewi as the main vector of TOSV and a potential link between vector density and virus circulation. This integrated system shows that an interdisciplinary approach improves the sensitiveness and effectiveness of health surveillance.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell Emilia-Romagna, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calzolari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Angelini
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Finarelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cagarelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bellini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albieri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonilauri
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavrini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamba
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dottori
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaibani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Natalini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maioli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mattivi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sambri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pierro
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Landini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Squintani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cinotti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vocale
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bedeschi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D029301:Sandfly fever Naples virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012367:RNA, Viral