Quails Blamed for Being Amplifying Agents of Toscana and Sandfly Fever Sicilian Virus

The quail may be an unidentified reservoir for the Toscana virus (TOSV) and the Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV), both mosquito-borne pathogens that can infect domestic animals and cause disease in humans.

This conclusion is drawn from a study led by Jordi Serra-Cobo, professor at the Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) of the University of Barcelona, and Remi Charrel, from the Aix-Marseille University, and published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology (France).

The quail could be the unknown reservoir of Tuscany and Sicilian viruses

(Photo : David McNew/Getty Images)

TOSV and SFSV are Phleboviruses that are considered emerging diseases.

They are spherical, single-stranded RNA viruses with a high mutation rate that are spread by mosquito bites (Phlebotomus genus), which are mostly found in the warmer, drier areas of the Iberian Peninsula.

These viruses are found throughout the majority of Western European Mediterranean nations, as well as Cyprus and Turkey.

Because there is no vaccine to prevent viral infections, epidemiological surveillance, control, and prevention measures to avoid phlebotomine sandfly bites are critical.

Researchers have discovered neutralizing antibodies to TOSV and SFSV in wild birds for the first time.

"Until now, the reservoir for these two viruses has remained unknown, even though it has been sought for years; dogs and bats had been proposed as reservoirs, but the results showed that neither was," said Jordi Serra-Cobo, an expert in epidemiological studies with bats as natural reservoirs of infectious agents such as coronaviruses, as per ScienceDaily.

Feblovirus infections in people are normally asymptomatic, although they can cause a three-day fever called pappatasis feve, which is remarkably similar to influenza.

SFSV can induce a brief period of high temperature, along with headache, rash, photophobia, eye discomfort, myalgia, and overall weakness.

TOSV can cause the same symptoms as SFSV, but it can also cause central or peripheral neurological signs such as meningitis and encephalitis.

TOSV is responsible for a portion of summer encephalitis.

According to the findings of the current study, birds might be the reservoir or amplification agents of these viruses.

Mosquitoes can become infected by infected birds and then bite animals or humans.

The study emphasized on the importance of quails (Coturnix coturnix) in the infection dynamics of phleboviruses.

Because of their tremendous movement from one location to the next, migratory birds play an essential role in disease transmission, making them possible vectors of illnesses that can impact domestic animals and human health, according to Serra-Cobo.

The quail is a migratory and hunter species, which increases the possibility of disease transmission through the food chain.

Also Read: Endangered Philippine Eagles Might Be Relocated to Protect the Birds from Avian Flu

Important viruses in migratory birds

Because of the importance and lack of knowledge about these processes, research on viruses in migratory birds is ongoing, as per Veterinaria Digital.

The avian influenza virus is one of the most significant viral diseases in poultry across the world.

This disease is being studied extensively due to its impact on public health and transmission to swine and humans.

Migratory birds are known to play a significant role in the spread of avian influenza.

It is emphasized that aquatic wild birds like ducks are natural reservoirs of the disease.

 The influenza virus can undergo antigenic changes in these migratory birds, increasing the pathogen's pathogenicity.

Another study published in 2011 found Marek's Disease Virus in migratory birds in Japan.

The role of migratory ducks in the spread of this viral pathogen had previously been recognized.

Furthermore, scientists discovered that local ducks were infected with the virus and may act as vectors for other species of fowl.

If the strains involved are extremely pathogenic, Marek's disease might cause a systemic picture of malignant lymphoma with severe morbidities.

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