Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2011 May;11(5):583-7. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2010.0065. Epub 2010 Oct 6.
Toscana virus (TOSV) is transmitted by infected sandflies. In Mediterranean countries, TOSV is one of the major viral pathogens involved in aseptic meningitis and meningoencephalitis in humans. It remains unclear if there are animal reservoirs able to maintain the virus through the cold months of the year, when the vector is not circulating. From May to October of 2006 and 2007, we conducted a serosurvey study on domestic animals from Granada province (southern Spain). TOSV was investigated in 1186 serum samples from horses, goats, pigs, cats, dogs, sheep, and cows by serology (indirect fluorescence assay), viral culture, and RT-polymerase chain reaction. Specific anti-TOSV antibodies were detected in 429 (36.2%) serum samples. The highest seropositivity rates were observed in cats (59.6%) and dogs (48.3%). These results suggest that an important percentage of the domestic animals have been infected by TOSV. Significantly different seroprevalence rates were detected in goats among distinct geographical areas. All viral cultures were negative. TOSV was detected by RT-polymerase chain reaction in only one serum sample from a goat. Thus, the studied animals do not seem to act as reservoirs for TOSV; otherwise, they could be amplifying hosts for the virus.
托斯卡纳病毒（TOSV）通过受感染的沙蝇传播。在地中海国家，TOSV 是导致人类无菌性脑膜炎和脑膜脑炎的主要病毒病原体之一。目前尚不清楚是否存在能够在沙蝇不传播的冬季维持病毒的动物宿主。2006 年和 2007 年 5 月至 10 月，我们对西班牙南部格拉纳达省的家畜进行了血清学调查研究。通过血清学（间接荧光测定法）、病毒培养和 RT-聚合酶链反应，在来自马、山羊、猪、猫、狗、绵羊和牛的 1186 份血清样本中调查了 TOSV。在 429 份（36.2%）血清样本中检测到了特异性抗 TOSV 抗体。猫（59.6%）和狗（48.3%）的血清阳性率最高。这些结果表明，相当一部分家畜已被 TOSV 感染。不同地理区域的山羊的血清阳性率存在显著差异。所有病毒培养均为阴性。仅从一只山羊的血清样本中通过 RT-聚合酶链反应检测到 TOSV。因此，所研究的动物似乎不是 TOSV 的宿主；否则，它们可能是病毒的扩增宿主。
