Ankara Bölgesinde Batı Nil Virusu ve Toskana Virus Vektörlerinin Araştırılması

Abstract

West Nile Virus (WNV) and Toscana virus (TOSV) may cause febrile diseases and central nervous system infections and even severe meningoencephalitis in susceptible individuals. Major transmission route is via blood sucking of infected mosquitoes/sandflies, acting as arthropod vectors. Turkey is located in the endemic region for these viruses and activity of sandfly/mosquito species with vector competence have been detected. The circulation of WNV and TOSV in Ankara province have also been previously reported. The aim of this study is to identify mosquito and sandfly species that may act as WNV and TOSV vectors in Ankara region and detection of viral infections in vector arthropods. Sampling was carried out during July-September 2012 in 19 localities in 6 regions. The specimens were processsed via standard protocols and subjected to WNV antigen detection via a commercial immunochromatographic assay and WNV/TOSV/phlebovirus nucleic acid detection via nested PCR assays. A total of 1006 specimens were collected which include 23.75% mosquitoes and 76.25% sandflies. Species distribution in mosquitoes were observed as 74.5% C.pipiens, 20.9% An.maculipennis, 2.1% An.claviger, %1.6 Culiseta annulata and 1% C.theileri. Virus antigens and RNA could not be detected in 65 mosquito pools formed according to the species, date and sampling site. Species distribution in 384 male sandflies were noted as P.papatasi (36.2%), P.halepensis (27.3%), P.major s.l. (19.3%), P.sergenti (8.9%), P.perfiliewi (4.4%), P.simici (2.6%), P. tobbi (0.8%) and Sergentomyia sp. (0.6%). A total of 383 female sandflies evaluated individually for TOSV/phlebovirus RNA were negative. Although species established as WNV and TOSV vectors have been identified, infections were not detected in mosquitoes or sandflies in this study.