An entomological investigation performed in 2013 covering different bio-geographical areas varying from
humid in the north to the arid in the center showed that sand flies of the subgenus Larroussius including
Phlebotomus perniciosus, Phlebotomus perfiliewi, and Phlebotomus longicuspis are abundant and widely
distributed in Tunisia. A total of 3992 collected and pooled with up to 30 specimens per pool based on
sex, trapping location and collection data were tested for the presence of phleboviruses by nested reverse
transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Of a total of 135 pools, 23 were positive, yielding
and minimum infection rate of 0.6%. Phylogenetic analysis performed using partial amino acid sequence
in the polymerase gene showed that all these phleboviruses were grouped in one cluster clearly distinct
from but closely related to Massilia virus and Granada virus. This putative novel virus, tentatively called
Saddaguia virus (SADV), is widely distributed in Tunisia. Together with Toscana, Punique, and Utique
viruses, SADV is the fourth recognized phlebovirus to be transmitted by sand flies in Tunisia. The medical
and public health interest of SADV remains to be investigated.
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