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

In a study recently published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology, Jordi Serra-Cobo, a professor at the Faculty of Biology and the Institute for Research in Biodiversity (IRBio) of the University of Barcelona, and Remi Charrel, from the University of Aix-Marseille, highlight the possible link between quails and the Toscana virus (TOSV) and the Sicilian phlebovirus (SFSV). This conclusion, based on the detection of neutralising antibodies against these viruses in wild birds, contrasts with previous theories that pointed to dogs and bats as possible reservoirs. The TOSV and SFSV viruses, belonging to the Phlebovirus genus, are emerging pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Phlebotomus, primarily in warm areas of the Iberian Peninsula. These viruses can infect domestic animals and cause diseases in humans. The study’s results highlight the potential importance of quails, especially in the context of their migration, as possible reservoirs or amplifying agents for these viruses.