Rapid detection of important human pathogenic Phleboviruses

Background: Rapid diagnostics are not available for several human pathogens in the genus Phlebovirus of the Bunyaviridae. Objectives: To develop RT-PCR assays for Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV), Sandfly Fever Naples virus (SFNV), Toscana virus (TOSV) and Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV). Study design: RNA standards were generated and used to test the performance of the assays. Results: A detection limit of 10-100 RNA molecules was determined for the SFSV, TOSV and RVFV assays. The sensitivity of the SFNV assay was not determined. The TOSV and the RVFV assays detected recent isolates from Spain and Africa, respectively. Conclusion: The assays should help to improve surveillance of pathogenic Phleboviruses. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.