Vector Borne Zoonotic Diseases and Pathogens

**51**

**1. Introduction**

**Chapter 4**

**Abstract**

Importance

*Nazli Ayhan and Remi N. Charrel*

Sandfly-Borne Viruses of

Demonstrated/Relevant Medical

Sandflies show distribution in a vast geographical area from Europe to Asia, Africa, Australia, and Central and South America where they can transmit a large number of viruses. Between these viruses, the most important are grouped into the *Phlebovirus* genus (family *Phenuiviridae*). Among them, several sandfly-borne phleboviruses cause self-limiting febrile disease (sandfly fever) or central and

peripheral nervous system infections. Data concerning the geographic distribution of these phleboviruses has drastically increased during the last decade in both the new and the old worlds. The current situation depicts a high viral diversity with taxonomic groups containing human pathogenic and non-pathogenic viruses. This merits to provide insight to address the question of medical and veterinary public health impact of all these viruses, which are poorly studied. To do so, integrated and translational approaches must use ecological, epidemiological, serological and direct clinical evidence. Beside, other viruses transmitted by sandflies and belonging to *Rhabdoviridae* and *Reoviridae* families can also be of veterinary and public health importance. The chapter aims to provide a comprehensive view of the sandfly-borne viral pathogens of the public health impact on humans and other vertebrates in the old and new worlds.

**Keywords:** sandfly-borne phleboviruses, sandfly fever, phlebovirus, Toscana virus, Sandfly fever Naples virus, Sandfly fever Sicilian virus, Punta Toro virus,

Sandflies are present in tropical and subtropical, arid and semi-arid areas and temperate zones including southern Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Central and South America. Phlebotomine sandflies are tiny diptera insects grouped in the family Psychodidae, subfamily Phlebotominae. To date, over 800 species are estimated to exist in different regions of the world [1]. Two genera (*Phlebotomus* and *Sergentomyia*) of Phlebotominae are mostly recorded in the old world (OW) and the other genus *Lutzomyia* exists in the new world (NW) [2]. Only females are hematophagous and require a blood meal to develop their eggs. Sandflies take blood from a wide range of animals such as cold-blooded vertebrates, mammals and birds;

Of the 800 sandfly species, at least 98 are proven or suspected vectors of microorganisms capable to cause parasitic, viral or bacterial diseases in vertebrates [1].

Vesiculovirus, Chandipura virus, Changuinola virus

trophic preferences vary depending on the sandfly species.
