, 1991). In the early 1970’s, neutralizing antibodies against Sicilian virus (2.5%) and Naples virus (7.5%) were reported in human sera (Tesh et al., 1976). During an outbreak in US Army troops in 2007, 13 of 14 convalescent sera contained IgM specific for Sicilian virus using ELISA (Ellis et al., 2008). IgG specific for Sicilian virus was also found in marines after self-reporting of febrile illness using ELISA (Riddle et al., 2008). Extensive studies were conducted in Iran. Hitherto, five different sandfly fever viruses were reported to be present in Iran with virus isolation representing of Sicilian virus, Salehabad, Karimabad, and Tehran but only indirect evidence for Naples virus.

Salehebad virus was isolated from P. papatasi in 1959, Tehran CDK inhibitor virus was isolated in 1959 from unidentified sandflies, and Karimabad virus was first isolated from an unidentified pool of sandflies selleck as well as from P. papatasi

( Tesh et al., 1977 and Tesh et al., 1976). Although the pathogenicity of Karimabad virus is unknown, specific antibodies were found in humans and other vertebrates ( Darwish et al., 1983 and Gaidamovich et al., 1984; 1978; Saidi et al., 1977 and Tesh et al., 1976). The presence of neutralizing antibodies in human sera collected from seven provinces of Iran over a wide geographical range demonstrates that Sicilian virus (9.4–21.8%), Naples virus (13.2–30.4%), and Karimabad virus (0.2–62.1%) were highly prevalent throughout the country before the 1970’s ( Tesh et al., 1976). In contrast, Salehebad neutralizing antibodies were not detected in humans ( Tesh et al., 1976). Karimabad virus and Sicilian virus can also infect gerbils as shown by respective rates of 31.6% and

34.2%, using PRNT (80) ( Saidi et al., 1977). From P. papatasi flies, 49 strains of Sicilian virus and 11 strains of Karimabad virus were isolated ( Tesh et al., 1977). Although seroprevalence rates of antibodies against Naples virus were significant, the virus was not isolated in Iran. In 1986–1987, three strains of Naples virus and two strains of Sicilian virus were isolated from febrile Soviet troops (Gaidamovich et al., 1990). However, a very low prevalence of HI antibodies was reported Bryan et al. (1996). Microbiological investigations of 26 cases of unexplained febrile illness that occurred in British troops stationed in Pregnenolone Helmand district during summer 2008 revealed that 12 cases were associated with sandfly fever although the status “ probable” or “confirmed” and the method used for diagnosis were not detailed (Bailey et al., 2011). The studies of Tesh et al. (1976) did not lead to the discovery of neutralizing antibodies in Burma, Vietnam, Malaysia or China. In Western provinces of Pakistan, a strain of Sicilian virus was isolated from P. papatasi ( George, 1970). In Karachi, 2.7% and 9.3% of sera tested positive for neutralizing antibodies against Sicilian and Naples virus, respectively ( Tesh et al., 1976).