Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell Emilia-Romagna, Brescia, Italy.
Euro Surveill. 2014 Dec 4;19(48):20978. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.48.20978.
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.
托斯卡纳病毒（TOSV）通过白蛉传播，被认为是地中海国家夏季病毒性脑膜炎的最重要原因之一。2010 年，意大利艾米利亚-罗马涅地区启动了一项基于人类和昆虫学调查的监测计划。2010 年至 2012 年期间，收集了有神经症状表现的患者的临床样本。这些年来，监测方案不断得到完善，共检测到 65 例人类感染病例。这些感染大多发生在白蛉密度最高的丘陵地区。在患者家中周围进行的昆虫学抽样捕获的白蛉数量较少，而在有大量人类病例的丘陵地区进行的后续抽样（n=21）捕获的白蛉数量较多。通过这种方法，共采集了 25,653 只白蛉，其中有 21,157 只为雌性，被分为 287 个组。通过实时 PCR 在 33 个组中检测到了 TOSV RNA。结果突出了白蛉属 Perfiliewi 作为 TOSV 主要传播媒介的作用，以及媒介密度与病毒传播之间的潜在联系。这种综合系统表明，跨学科方法提高了卫生监测的敏感性和有效性。
