据报道,在沙蝇感染地区的家畜和人类中,几种静脉病毒的血清阳性率很高。沙蝇热西西里病毒(SFSV)和托斯卡纳病毒(TOSV)是其中两种通常由白蝇传播的病毒。虽然SFSV可以迅速缓解轻度高热疾病,TOSV可能涉及中枢神经系统(CNS),引起从无菌性脑膜炎到脑膜脑炎的疾病。沙蝇相关的静脉病毒在沙特阿拉伯之前尚未进行过调查,鉴于该国沙蝇的流行,它们是潜在的感染原因。这里,我们调查了沙特阿拉伯西部地区的SFSV和TOSV的血清阳性率,家畜动物,和动物管理员。在人类中发现SFSV和TOSV的总血清阳性率为9.4%和0.8%,分别。与沙特人相比,非沙特人的血清阳性明显更高,并且随着年龄的增长而显着增加,尤其是对于SFSV。血清阳性率最高的是从动物处理人员收集的样品。具体来说,在献血者中,6.4%和0.7%的SFSV和TOSVnAbs检测呈阳性,分别。动物处理人员显示出抗SFSV和抗TOSVnAb的血清阳性率较高,分别为16%和1%,分别,这表明与家畜动物接触可能是一个危险因素。的确,来自家畜动物的血清在奶牛中显示出53.3%和4.4%的血清阳性,绵羊的27.5%和7.8%,山羊占2.2%和0.0%,骆驼中SFSV和TOSV分别为10.0%和2.3%,分别。一起,这些结果表明,SFSV和TOSV都在沙特阿拉伯西部地区的人类和家畜中传播,尽管费率不同,年龄和与家畜动物的接触可能代表感染这些病毒的危险因素。
High seroprevalence rates of several phleboviruses have been reported in domestic animals and humans in sandfly-infested regions. Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV) and Toscana virus (
TOSV) are two of these viruses commonly transmitted by Phlebotomus sandflies. While SFSV can cause rapidly resolving mild febrile illness,
TOSV could involve the central nervous system (CNS), causing diseases ranging from aseptic meningitis to meningoencephalitis. Sandfly-associated phleboviruses have not been investigated before in Saudi Arabia and are potential causes of infection given the prevalence of sandflies in the country. Here, we investigated the seroprevalence of SFSV and TOSV in the western region of Saudi Arabia in samples collected from blood donors, livestock animals, and animal handlers. An overall seroprevalence of 9.4% and 0.8% was found in humans for SFSV and
TOSV, respectively. Seropositivity was significantly higher in non-Saudis compared to Saudis and increased significantly with age especially for SFSV. The highest seropositivity rate was among samples collected from animal handlers. Specifically, in blood donors, 6.4% and 0.7% tested positive for SFSV and
TOSV nAbs, respectively. Animal handlers showed higher seroprevalence rates of 16% and 1% for anti-SFSV and anti-TOSV nAbs, respectively, suggesting that contact with livestock animals could be a risk factor. Indeed, sera from livestock animals showed seropositivity of 53.3% and 4.4% in cows, 27.5% and 7.8% in sheep, 2.2% and 0.0% in goats, and 10.0% and 2.3% in camels for SFSV and TOSV, respectively. Together, these results suggest that both SFSV and
TOSV are circulating in the western region of Saudi Arabia in humans and livestock animals, albeit at different rates, and that age and contact with livestock animals could represent risk factors for infection with these viruses.