Viruses transmitted by sandflies in Italy.

Five different phlebotomus-transmitted viruses have been isolated in Italy. Four of them belong to the Bunyaviridae family (genus Phlebovirus). Sandfly fever Sicilian and Sandfly fever Naples viruses were isolated from sick persons during World War II, Toscana and Arbia viruses have been isolated more recently from Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. perfiliewi. Radi virus is the only phlebotomus-transmitted virus isolated in Italy from P. perfiliewi, which belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family (genus Vesiculovirus). The circulation and the natural cycle of these viruses on the basis of seroepidemiological investigations and ecological studies is discussed.