The quail could be the unknown reservoir of Tuscany and Sicilian viruses


Date:
February 1, 2023
Source:
University of Barcelona
Summary:
The quail could be the unknown reservoir of the Toscana virus
(TOSV) and the Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV), mosquito-borne
pathogens that can infect domestic animals and also cause disease
in humans.


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FULL STORY ==========================================================================
The quail could be the unknown reservoir of the Toscana virus (TOSV) and
the Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV), mosquito-borne pathogens that can infect domestic animals and also cause disease in humans. This conclusion
is drawn from a study published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology,
and which is led by Jordi Serra-Cobo, professor at the Faculty of Biology
and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) of the University of
Barcelona, and Remi Charrel, from the Aix-Marseille University (France).


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This is the first time that researchers find neutralising antibodies to
TOSV and SFSV in wild birds. "To date, the reservoir for these two viruses
was unknown, although they have been sought for years. Dogs and bats had
been proposed as reservoirs, but the results showed that neither of them
were," says Jordi Serra-Cobo, an expert in epidemiological studies with
bats as natural reservoirs of infectious agents such as coronaviruses.

The study, whose first author is Nazli Ayhan, from Aix-Marseille
University, includes the participation of Jose' Domingo Rodri'guez
Teijeiro, Marc Lo'pez- Roig, Dolors Vinyoles and Abir Monastiri (UB
Faculty of Biology and IRBio) and Josep Anton Ferreres (UB Faculty
of Biology).

Emerging viruses in the Mediterranean basin TOSV and SFSV belong to
the Phlebovirus genus and are considered emerging pathogens. They are spherical, single-stranded RNA viruses with a high mutation rate and
are transmitted by mosquito bites (Phlebotomus genus), insects found
mainly in the warmer, drier areas of the Iberian Peninsula. These viruses
are distributed in most Mediterranean countries in Western Europe, as
well as Cyprus and Turkey. With no actual vaccine against infection, epidemiological surveillance, control, and prevention measures to avoid phlebotomine sandfly bites are crucial to avoid viral infections.

"Both TOSV and SFSV have been detected in a variety of domestic animals
(dogs, cats, goats, horses, pigs, cows), but they can also infect humans
and cause diseases," says the researcher, a member of the UB Department
of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences.

In humans, feblovirus infections are usually symptomless and often
result in a three-day fever -- pappatasis feve -- which is very similar
to influenza. "SFSV can cause a period of short-length high fever,
accompanied by headache, rash, photophobia, eye pain, myalgia and general weakness. TOSV can cause the same manifestations as SFSV, but it can also
be responsible for various central or peripheral neurological signs,
such as meningitis and encephalitis. In fact, part of the encephalitis
that occurs in summer is caused by TOSV," Serra-Cobo notes.

Viruses in migratory birds The results of the new study suggest that
birds could be the reservoir or amplifying agents of these viruses. From infected birds, mosquitoes can become infected and then bite animals or
humans. In particular, the study highlights the important role of quails (Coturnix coturnix) in the infection dynamics of phleboviruses.

"Migratory birds play an important role in disease transmission due to
their high mobility from one area to another, which makes them potential vectors of diseases that can affect domestic animals and human health," Serra-Cobo stresses.

"The quail is a migratory and also a hunter species, which enhances the potential transmission of diseases by direct contact through the food
chain. In this context, regular pathogen detection is of great importance
to predict future disease risks for both wildlife and humans," concludes
the researcher.

* RELATED_TOPICS
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========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Barcelona. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Nazli Ayhan, Jose' Domingo Rodri'guez-Teijeiro, Marc Lo'pez-Roig,
Dolors
Vinyoles, Josep Anton Ferreres, Abir Monastiri, Remi Charrel, Jordi
Serra-Cobo. High rates of antibodies against Toscana and Sicilian
phleboviruses in common quail Coturnix coturnix birds. Frontiers
in Microbiology, 2023; 13 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1091908 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230201134219.htm

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