Laboratory of Vector Ecology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.
J Gen Virol. 2010 May;91(Pt 5):1275-83. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.019240-0. Epub 2010 Jan 20.
Sandflies are widely distributed around the Mediterranean Basin. Therefore, human populations in this area are potentially exposed to sandfly-transmitted diseases, including those caused by phleboviruses. Whilst there are substantial data in countries located in the northern part of the Mediterranean basin, few data are available for North Africa. In this study, a total of 1489 sandflies were collected in 2008 in Tunisia from two sites, bioclimatically distinct, located 235 km apart, and identified morphologically. Sandfly species comprised Phlebotomus perniciosus (52.2%), Phlebotomus longicuspis (30.1%), Phlebotomus papatasi (12.0%), Phlebotomus perfiliewi (4.6%), Phlebotomus langeroni (0.4%) and Sergentomyia minuta (0.5%). PCR screening, using generic primers for the genus Phlebovirus, resulted in the detection of ten positive pools. Sequence analysis revealed that two pools contained viral RNA corresponding to a novel virus closely related to sandfly fever Naples virus. Virus isolation in Vero cells was achieved from one pool. Genetic and phylogenetic characterization based on sequences in the three genomic segments showed that it was a novel virus distinct from other recognized members of the species. This novel virus was provisionally named Punique virus. Viral sequences in the polymerase gene corresponding to another phlebovirus closely related to but distinct from sandfly fever Sicilian virus were obtained from the eight remaining positive pools.
在整个地中海盆地周围都广泛分布着沙蝇。因此，该地区的人类可能会暴露于沙蝇传播的疾病之下，包括那些由黄病毒属病毒引起的疾病。尽管在地中海盆地北部的国家有大量数据，但北非的相关数据却很少。在本研究中，2008 年在突尼斯的两个相距 235 公里的具有不同生物气候特征的地点共采集了 1489 只沙蝇，并进行了形态学鉴定。鉴定出的沙蝇种类包括：白蛉斯氏亚种（52.2%）、长角白蛉（30.1%）、埃及伊蚊（12.0%）、柏氏白蛉（4.6%）、拉氏白蛉（0.4%）和小眼白蛉（0.5%）。使用黄病毒属通用引物的 PCR 筛选结果显示，有 10 个阳性池。序列分析显示，有两个阳性池含有与那不勒斯发热沙蝇病毒密切相关的新型病毒的 RNA。从一个阳性池中成功分离出了病毒。基于三个基因组片段的序列进行的遗传和系统发育特征分析表明，该病毒是一种与其他已识别的种属不同的新型病毒。该新型病毒暂命名为普尼克病毒。从其余 8 个阳性池中获得了聚合酶基因中对应另一种与发热性西西里病毒密切相关但又不同的黄病毒的病毒序列。
