@article{fdi:010078781,
  title = {{P}unique virus, a novel phlebovirus, related to sandfly fever {N}aples virus, isolated from sandflies collected in {T}unisia},
  author = {{Z}hioua, {E}. and {M}oureau, {G}r{\'e}gory and {C}helbi, {I}. and {N}inove, {L}. and {B}ichaud, {L}. and {D}erbali, {M}. and {C}hamps, {M}. and {C}herni, {S}. and {S}alez, {N}. and {C}ook, {S}. and de {L}amballerie, {X}avier and {C}harrel, {R}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}andflies are widely distributed around the {M}editerranean {B}asin. {T}herefore, human populations in this area are potentially exposed to sandfly-transmitted diseases, including those caused by phleboviruses. {W}hilst there are substantial data in countries located in the northern part of the {M}editerranean basin, few data are available for {N}orth {A}frica. {I}n this study, a total of 1489 sandflies were collected in 2008 in {T}unisia from two sites, bioclimatically distinct, located 235 km apart, and identified morphologically. {S}andfly species comprised {P}hlebotomus perniciosus (52.2%), {P}hlebotomus longicuspis (30.1%), {P}hlebotomus papatasi (12.0%), {P}hlebotomus perfiliewi (4.6%), {P}hlebotomus langeroni (0.4%) and {S}ergentomyia minuta (0.5%). {PCR} screening, using generic primers for the genus {P}hlebovirus, resulted in the detection of ten positive pools. {S}equence analysis revealed that two pools contained viral {RNA} corresponding to a novel virus closely related to sandfly fever {N}aples virus. {V}irus isolation in {V}ero cells was achieved from one pool. {G}enetic and phylogenetic characterization based on sequences in the three genomic segments showed that it was a novel virus distinct from other recognized members of the species. {T}his novel virus was provisionally named {P}unique virus. {V}iral sequences in the polymerase gene corresponding to another phlebovirus closely related to but distinct from sandfly fever {S}icilian virus were obtained from the eight remaining positive pools.},
  keywords = {},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {G}eneral {V}irology},
  volume = {91},
  numero = {{P}art 5},
  pages = {1275--1283},
  ISSN = {0022-1317},
  year = {2010},
  DOI = {10.1099/vir.0.019240-0},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010078781},
}