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Diversity of Phlebotomus perniciosus in Provence, southeastern France: Detection of two putative new phlebovirus
Christophe N Peyrefitte1, Marc Grandadam, Maël Bessaud
11 Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées antenne de Marseille , Marseille, France .
Abstract:
Phlebotomine sand flies are known to transmit Leishmania, bacteria, and viruses that affect humans and animals in many countries worldwide. Sand fly-borne viruses belong mainly to the Phlebovirus, Vesiculovirus, and Orbivirus genera, and some of them are associated with outbreaks or sporadic human cases in the Mediterranean Europe. Up to now, Toscana virus is the only phlebovirus of medical importance identified in France. To study the diversity of the sand fly population living in the southeastern France, an entomological study was conducted from May to October, 2007. Most of the trapped sand flies belonged to Phlebotomus perniciosus (82.0%) and Sergentomyia minuta (17.3%) species; only three specimens were Phlebotomus ariasi. Molecular characterization of the P. perniciosus specimen based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene demonstrated different subpopulations living in the same areas. Most of the specimens belonged to the haplotypes pern01 and pern09, already described in France, but some belonged to original new haplotypes. The detection of one viral sequence clustering with Massilia/Granada virus, and of four sequences corresponding to two potential new phleboviruses (proposed names Olbia and Provencia viruses, respectively), revealed an unexpected diversity of phlebovirus species in France.
Insights
Sand flies in France carry diverse viruses. Researchers found new phleboviruses in Phlebotomus perniciosus populations, indicating greater viral diversity than previously known in the region.
Area of Science:
- Medical entomology
- Virology
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Phlebotomine sand flies transmit various pathogens globally.
- Phleboviruses are a significant group of sand fly-borne viruses, with Toscana virus being the only one of medical importance identified in France.
- Limited knowledge exists regarding the diversity of sand fly populations and their associated viruses in southeastern France.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diversity of sand fly populations in southeastern France.
- To identify and characterize viruses, particularly phleboviruses, present in these sand fly populations.
Main Methods:
- An entomological study was conducted from May to October 2007 in southeastern France.
- Sand flies were trapped and identified to species level.
- Molecular characterization of Phlebotomus perniciosus specimens using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene.
- Viral RNA sequencing to detect and identify viral sequences.
Main Results:
- Phlebotomus perniciosus (82.0%) and Sergentomyia minuta (17.3%) were the predominant sand fly species identified.
- Molecular analysis revealed distinct subpopulations within P. perniciosus, including previously undescribed haplotypes.
- Viral sequencing detected a sequence related to Massilia/Granada virus and four sequences representing two potential novel phleboviruses (Olbia and Provencia viruses).
Conclusions:
- The sand fly population in southeastern France exhibits genetic diversity within the P. perniciosus species.
- An unexpected diversity of phleboviruses, including potentially new species, exists in France.
- These findings highlight the need for further research into sand fly-borne viral ecology and public health implications in the region.
