Toscana phlebovirus
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| Toscana phlebovirus | |
|---|---|
Virus classification 
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| (unranked): | Virus |
| Realm: | Riboviria |
| Kingdom: | Orthornavirae |
| Phylum: | Negarnaviricota
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| Class: | Ellioviricetes |
| Order: | Bunyavirales |
| Family: | Phenuiviridae |
| Genus: | Phlebovirus |
| Species: | Toscana phlebovirus
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| Synonyms | |
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Toscana phlebovirus (TOSV) is an
The virus is found in most countries that border the Mediterranean Sea, with the highest incidence in Italy. Infection rates peak during the summer time as sandfly populations grow more abundant.[4]
Virology
Structure and genome
TOSV has a spherical, enveloped body with an 80–120 nm diameter. The genome is encased in a nucleocapsid and consists of negative-sense RNA broken into three segments, termed L, M and S. L is about 6,400 nucleotides in length, M about 4,200 nucleotides in length, and S about 1,900 nucleotides in length. L encodes for the viral polymerase, M encodes for structural glycoproteins and S encodes for nucleic proteins.
Diagnosis
Laboratory diagnosis of TOSV infection can be performed through the use of ELISA, immunofluorescence and/or neutralization tests,[5] but reverse transcription, real-time polymerase chain reaction assays are preferred because they are less time-consuming and reduce the risk of contamination.[5][6]
History
Toscana virus (TOSV) was first isolated in 1971 from Phlebotomus perniciosus and Phlebotomus perfiliewi in Monte Argentario (Grosseto, Tuscany).[7]