Prevalence of Toscana sand fly virus antibodies in neurological patients and control subjects in Sicily
- Authors: Colomba, C; Saporito, L; Ciufolini, MG; Marchi, A; Rotolo, V; De Grazia, S; Titone Lanza Di Scalea, L; Giammanco, G
- Publication year: 2012
- Type: Articolo in rivista (Articolo in rivista)
- Key words: Toscana virus, Sicily
- OA Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10447/64900
Abstract
Toscana sandfly fever virus (TOSV) is an arthropod-borne virus transmitted to humans by sandfly vectors. It has been associated with human cases of meningitis and meningo-encephalitis mainly occurring during the warm season. We performed a retrospective serological study to evaluate TOSV circulation in Palermo, Sicily, and to compare TOSV seroprevalence in patients with neurological symptoms and in a control group of patients without neurological symptoms. When sera from 155 patients with and without neurological symptoms were evaluated, the rate of overall TOSV IgG reactivity was 17.4%. Patients with neurological symptoms showed a higher percentage of TOSV IgG positivity than control patients (25% versus 10.8%). TOSV exposure was confirmed by virus neutralization tests which also detected a Naples virus (SFNV) infection. TOSV should be considered as an etiologic agent in the differential diagnosis of fever and meningo-encephalitis in Sicily.