title: Virus isolation, genetic characterization and seroprevalence of Toscana virus in Algeria.
abstract: Toscana virus (TOSV; Bunyaviridae, Phlebovirus) is transmitted by sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus in the Mediterranean area. One strain of TOSV was isolated from a total of almost 23 000 sandflies collected in Kabylia, Algeria. The complete genome was sequenced, and phylogenetic studies indicated that it was most closely related with TOSV strain from Tunisia within lineage A, which also includes Italian, French and Turkish strains. A seroprevalence study performed on 370 sera collected from people living in the same area showed that almost 50% possessed neutralizing antibodies against TOSV, a rate much higher than that observed in Southern Europe. Sandfly species distribution in the study area suggests that the vector of TOSV in this region belongs to the subgenus Larroussius. These data support the rapid implementation of the diagnosis of TOSV in clinical microbiology laboratories to estimate the burden in patients presenting with neuroinvasive infections and febrile illness.
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, IRD French Institute of Research for Development, EHESP French School of Public Health, EPV UMR_D 190 "Emergence des Pathologies Virales", Marseille, France; IHU Mediterranee Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alkan
authors.affiliation: Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie, Université d'Oran 1, Ahmed Ben Bella, Algeria.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Allal-Ikhlef
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, IRD French Institute of Research for Development, EHESP French School of Public Health, EPV UMR_D 190 "Emergence des Pathologies Virales", Marseille, France; IHU Mediterranee Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alwassouf
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, IRD French Institute of Research for Development, EHESP French School of Public Health, EPV UMR_D 190 "Emergence des Pathologies Virales", Marseille, France; IHU Mediterranee Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baklouti
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, IRD French Institute of Research for Development, EHESP French School of Public Health, EPV UMR_D 190 "Emergence des Pathologies Virales", Marseille, France; IHU Mediterranee Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piorkowski
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, IRD French Institute of Research for Development, EHESP French School of Public Health, EPV UMR_D 190 "Emergence des Pathologies Virales", Marseille, France; IHU Mediterranee Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: de Lamballerie
authors.affiliation: Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital Avicenne, Université Paris, Bobigny, Paris, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Izri
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, IRD French Institute of Research for Development, EHESP French School of Public Health, EPV UMR_D 190 "Emergence des Pathologies Virales", Marseille, France; IHU Mediterranee Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France. Electronic address: remi.charrel@univ-amu.fr.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Charrel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000145:classification / Q000821:virology*; D010217:Phlebotomus Fever / Q000453:epidemiology*; D029301:Sandfly fever Naples virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Complete genome sequencing; Phlebovirus; Toscana virus; microneutralization; seroprevalence; vector-borne infection