Isolation, Genetic Characterization, and Seroprevalence of Adana Virus, a Novel Phlebovirus Belonging to the Salehabad Virus Complex, in Turkey
Abstract
A new phlebovirus, Adana virus, was isolated from a pool of Phlebotomus spp. in the province of Adana, in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Genetic analysis based on complete genomic sequences indicated that Adana virus belongs to the Salehabad virus species of the genus Phlebovirus (Bunyaviridae).
Adana virus is the third virus of the Salehabad virus species for which a complete sequence has been determined. A seroprevalence study using microneutralization assay was performed to detect the presence of specific antibodies in human and domestic animal sera collected in Adana and Mersin province 147 km west of Adana.
The virus is present in both provinces. High seroprevalence rates in goats, sheep, and dogs support intensive exposure to Adana virus which was not previously reported for any virus included in the Salehabad serocomplex; however, low seroprevalences in humans suggest that it is unlikely to constitute an important public health problem in exposed human populations.
Until recently, in the genus Phlebovirus, the Salehabad virus species consisted of two viruses: Salehabad virus, isolated from sand flies in Iran, and Arbia virus, isolated from sand flies in Italy. Here we present the isolation and complete genome characterization of the Adana virus, which we propose to be included in the Salehabad virus species.
To our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation and complete genome characterization, from sand flies in Turkey, of a Salehabad virus-related phlebovirus with supporting seropositivity in the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Central Anatolia regions, where phleboviruses have been circulating and causing outbreaks. Salehabad species viruses have generally been considered to be a group of viruses with little medical or veterinary interest.
This view deserves to be revisited according to our results, which indicate a high animal infection rate of Adana virus and recent evidence of human infection with Adria virus in Greece.