Toscana virus; sandfly fever virus

Epidemiology

• can be transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected sandfly of the genus Phlebotomus
• up to 25% seroprevalance in endemic areas
• found in most countries that border the Mediterranean Sea
  • highest incidence in Italy
  • peak incidence in summer

Genetics

• negative-stranded, enveloped RNA virus

Clinical manifestations

• not normally associated with disease
• mild fever, headache & myalgia
• in serious cases, meningoencephalitis may occur
• Pappataci fever

Laboratory

• Toscana virus serology
• Toscana virus RNA

More general terms

• phlebovirus