Sand fly-borne phleboviruses in France (including Corsica): detection, isolation, and genetic characterisation contributing to Phlenuiviridae phylogenetics
Abstract
Sand fly-borne phleboviruses, transmitted by Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia species, are emerging pathogens in the Mediterranean basin, with several species causing febrile illnesses and neurological diseases in humans. While Toscana virus and Sandfly fever Sicilian virus are well-documented, the diversity and distribution of other phleboviruses remain poorly understood. This study aimed to characterise the circulation and genetic diversity of sand fly-borne phleboviruses in mainland France and Corsica, within the CLIMOS project framework. Sand flies were collected in 2023–2024 using CDC light traps in 15 sites across mainland France and Corsica. A total of 5,679 specimens were pooled by species, sex, trapping date, and location, and screened for phleboviruses. Positive samples were inoculated on Vero E6 cells, and isolated samples’ complete genome sequence was obtained using NGS. Phylogenetic analyses were performed RNA-dependent RNA polymerase sequences. Thirteen pools out of 802 (1.6%) were positive for phleboviruses, including Punique virus (PUNV) (n = 4), Massilia virus (MASV) (n = 3), Arbia virus (ARBV) (n = 1), Provincia virus (n = 1), Olbia virus (n = 3), and Arrábida virus (n = 1). Viruses were successfully isolated from five pools, with PUNV (named Orta virus), MASV, and ARBV (named Tumboni virus) strains showing >98% amino acid similarity with L segment to reference sequences. Notably, viruses belonging to the Phlebovirus puniqueense species were detected for the first time outside North Africa, and a virus most closely related to ARBV was identified outside Italy, suggesting broader geographic distributions than previously recognised. This study provides evidence of active co-circulation and considerable genetic diversity of phleboviruses in southern France.
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BibTeX
@article{sevila2026sand,
title = {{Sand fly-borne phleboviruses in France (including Corsica): detection, isolation, and genetic characterisation contributing to Phlenuiviridae phylogenetics}},
author = {Julie Sevila and Elif Kurum and Nalia Mekarnia and Jorian Prudhomme and Federico Lucchese and Alessandra Falchi and Fano José Randrianambinintsoa and Anne-Laure Bañuls and Idris Mhaidi and Aurélien Mercier and Marie-Laure Dardé and Bruno Mathieu and Florence Robert-Gangneux and Stéphane Goldblum and Pascal Delaunay and Arezki Izri and Loïc Favennec and Jérôme Depaquit and Rémi Charrel and Nazlı Ayhan},
journal = {Emerging Microbes \& Infections: Animal \& Environment},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1080/29986990.2026.2689115},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05752376v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Sand fly-borne phleboviruses in France (including Corsica): detection, isolation, and genetic characterisation contributing to Phlenuiviridae phylogenetics
AU - Julie Sevila
AU - Elif Kurum
AU - Nalia Mekarnia
AU - Jorian Prudhomme
AU - Federico Lucchese
AU - Alessandra Falchi
AU - Fano José Randrianambinintsoa
AU - Anne-Laure Bañuls
AU - Idris Mhaidi
AU - Aurélien Mercier
AU - Marie-Laure Dardé
AU - Bruno Mathieu
AU - Florence Robert-Gangneux
AU - Stéphane Goldblum
AU - Pascal Delaunay
AU - Arezki Izri
AU - Loïc Favennec
AU - Jérôme Depaquit
AU - Rémi Charrel
AU - Nazlı Ayhan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/16
JO - Emerging Microbes & Infections: Animal & Environment
DO - 10.1080/29986990.2026.2689115
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05752376v1
AB - Sand fly-borne phleboviruses, transmitted by Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia species, are emerging pathogens in the Mediterranean basin, with several species causing febrile illnesses and neurological diseases in humans. While Toscana virus and Sandfly fever Sicilian virus are well-documented, the diversity and distribution of other phleboviruses remain poorly understood. This study aimed to characterise the circulation and genetic diversity of sand fly-borne phleboviruses in mainland France and Corsica, within the CLIMOS project framework. Sand flies were collected in 2023–2024 using CDC light traps in 15 sites across mainland France and Corsica. A total of 5,679 specimens were pooled by species, sex, trapping date, and location, and screened for phleboviruses. Positive samples were inoculated on Vero E6 cells, and isolated samples’ complete genome sequence was obtained using NGS. Phylogenetic analyses were performed RNA-dependent RNA polymerase sequences. Thirteen pools out of 802 (1.6%) were positive for phleboviruses, including Punique virus (PUNV) (n = 4), Massilia virus (MASV) (n = 3), Arbia virus (ARBV) (n = 1), Provincia virus (n = 1), Olbia virus (n = 3), and Arrábida virus (n = 1). Viruses were successfully isolated from five pools, with PUNV (named Orta virus), MASV, and ARBV (named Tumboni virus) strains showing >98% amino acid similarity with L segment to reference sequences. Notably, viruses belonging to the Phlebovirus puniqueense species were detected for the first time outside North Africa, and a virus most closely related to ARBV was identified outside Italy, suggesting broader geographic distributions than previously recognised. This study provides evidence of active co-circulation and considerable genetic diversity of phleboviruses in southern France.
SN - 2998-6990
SN - 2998-6990
ER -