Genetic Characterization of Sandfly-Borne Viruses in Phlebotomine Sandflies in Iran

Shahhosseini, Nariman; Paquette, Sarah-Jo; Kayedi, Mohammad Hassan; Abaei, Mohammad Reza; Sedaghat, Mohammad Mehdi

doi:10.3390/microorganisms11112754

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…papatasi and Ph. perfiliewi in Western, north-western and central Iran [182]. These data demonstrate the need for further investigation into phleboviruses in Iran to potentially identify additional novel viruses distributed by sandflies.…”

Section: Sandfly-borne Viruses In Iran 41 Sandfly-borne Phlebovirusesmentioning

confidence: 78%

Medically Significant Vector-Borne Viral Diseases in Iran

Paquette,

Simon,

XIII

et al. 2023

Microorganisms

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Vector-borne viral diseases (VBVDs) continue to pose a considerable public health risk to animals and humans globally. Vectors have integral roles in autochthonous circulation and dissemination of VBVDs worldwide. The interplay of agricultural activities, population expansion, urbanization, host/pathogen evolution, and climate change, all contribute to the continual flux in shaping the epidemiology of VBVDs. In recent decades, VBVDs, once endemic to particular countries, have expanded into new regions such as Iran and its neighbors, increasing the risk of outbreaks and other public health concerns. Both Iran and its neighboring countries are known to host a number of VBVDs that are endemic to these countries or newly circulating. The proximity of Iran to countries hosting regional diseases, along with increased global socioeconomic activities, e.g., international trade and travel, potentially increases the risk for introduction of new VBVDs into Iran. In this review, we examined the epidemiology of numerous VBVDs circulating in Iran, such as Chikungunya virus, Dengue virus, Sindbis virus, West Nile virus, Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Sandfly-borne phleboviruses, and Hantavirus, in relation to their vectors, specifically mosquitoes, ticks, sandflies, and rodents. In addition, we discussed the interplay of factors, e.g., urbanization and climate change on VBVD dissemination patterns and the consequent public health risks in Iran, highlighting the importance of a One Health approach to further surveil and to evolve mitigation strategies.

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Section: Sandfly-borne Viruses In Iran 41 Sandfly-borne Phlebovirusesmentioning

confidence: 78%

Medically Significant Vector-Borne Viral Diseases in Iran

Paquette,

Simon,

XIII

et al. 2023

Microorganisms

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“…However, with the escalation of travel, transportation, and international trade, non-Mediterranean countries face an ongoing and elevated risk of importing cases of phlebovirus infections. This is exemplified by the report of sandfly-borne phlebovirus infections in regions such as the Middle East, Central Asia, and East Africa [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Most phleboviruses can cause a febrile syndrome, commonly known as sandfly fever, and a few phleboviruses, such as the Toscana virus, are associated with neurological diseases in humans, particularly during the summer months [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Characteristics of Wuxiang Virus in Shanxi Province, China

Zheng,

Tian,

Wang

et al. 2024

Viruses

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Wuxiang virus (WUXV) is the first sandfly-borne Phlebovirus isolated from Phlebotomus chinensis collected in China and has been established as a consistent viral presence in the local sandfly populations of both Wuxiang County and Yangquan City. However, its distribution in the Shanxi Province remains unclear. In this study, three novel WUXV strains were isolated from sandflies collected from Jiexiu City, Shanxi Province, China, in 2022. Subsequently, whole-genome sequences of these novel strains were generated using next-generation sequencing. The open reading frame (ORF) sequences of the WUXV strains from the three locations were subjected to gene analysis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that WUXV belongs to two distinct clades with geographical differences. Strains from Wuxiang County and Yangquan City belonged to clade 1, whereas strains from Jiexiu City belonged to clade 2. Reassortment and recombination analyses indicated no gene reassortment or recombination between the two clades. However, four reassortments or recombination events could be detected in clade 1 strains. By aligning the amino acid sequences, eighty-seven mutation sites were identified between the two clades, with seventeen, sixty, nine, and one site(s) in the proteins RdRp, M, NSs, and N, respectively. Additionally, selection pressure analysis identified 17 positively selected sites across the entire genome of WUXV, with two, thirteen, one, and one site(s) in the proteins RdRp, M, NSs, and N, respectively. Notably, sites M-312 and M-340 in the M segment not only represented mutation sites but also showed positive selective pressure effects. These findings highlight the need for continuous nationwide surveillance of WUXV.

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