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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2025

Broad geographical circulation of a novel vesiculovirus in bats in the Mediterranean region.

Bats are the natural reservoirs for a variety of emerging and re-emerging viruses. Among them, rabies virus (genus Lyssavirus, family Rhabdoviridae) is one of the first and most emblematic described in these animals. Since its first description, several new bat lyssaviruses have been regularly identified. In addition to lyssaviruses, other bat rhabdoviruses have also been discovered, including members of the genera Vesiculovirus, Ledantevirus and, more recently, Alphanemrhavirus and Tupavirus. However, the family Rhabdoviridae is one of the most abundant and diverse viral families, with 434 officially recognized species, divided into 5 subfamilies and 56 different genera. The number of rhabdoviruses associated with bats is therefore probably higher than that currently available. In this study, we first developed and validated a combined nested RT-qPCR technique (pan-rhabdo RT-nqPCR) dedicated to the broad detection of animal rhabdoviruses. After validation, this technique was used for a large retrospective screening of archival bat samples (n = 1962), including blood (n = 816), brain (n = 723) and oral swab (n = 423). These samples were collected from various bat species over a 12-year period (2007-2019) in 9 different countries in Europe and Africa. A total of 23 samples (1.2%) from bat species Miniopterus schreibersii, Rhinolophus euryale and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum tested positive for rhabdovirus infection, including 17 (2.1%) blood and 6 (1.4%) oral swab samples, all collected from bats originating from the Mediterranean region. Complete virus genome sequences were obtained by next-generation sequencing for most of the positive samples. Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of these sequences demonstrated that the virus isolates, named Mediterranean bat virus (MBV), were closely related and represented a new species, Mediterranean vesiculovirus, within the genus Vesiculovirus. MBV was more specifically related to other bat vesiculoviruses previously described from China and North America, together clustering into a distinct group of bat viruses within this genus. Interestingly, our results suggest that MBV is widespread, at least in the western part of the Mediterranean region, where it circulates in the blood of several bat species. These results expand the host range and viral diversity of bat vesiculoviruses, and pave the way for further studies to determine the transmission route and dissemination dynamics of these viruses in bat colonies, as well as to assess their potential threat to public health.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

A mathematical model for the 1973 cholera epidemic in the European Mediterranean region.

For the cholera epidemic that occurred in the European Mediterranean region in the summer of 1973, a simple deterministic mathematic model is proposed; it consists of a system of two ordinary differential equations which concern the evolution of the human infective population in a town community and of bacteria population in the sea. It is conjectured that the infection process obeys a non linear saturation-type law. A phase space analysis is performed for the system of equations. Conclusions are drawn which concern the evolution of the epidemic and which suggest some indications for the selection of public health policies. The validity of the model is compared with the available data for the town of Bari (Italy).

Cholera↗
PubMed2026

Digital health interventions for diabetes management in the eastern mediterranean region: A systematic review of types and effectiveness.

AIM: The aim of this study was to systematically review and evaluate the types and effectiveness of digital health interventions used for diabetes management in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO). METHODS: This systematic review, conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus up to May 2025 to identify studies on digital interventions for diabetes management in EMRO countries. Methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the EPHPP tool, and findings were categorized by intervention type, outcome measures, and intervention effectiveness. RESULTS: A total of 46 studies were included, mainly from Iran and Saudi Arabia. Phone calls and SMS were the most common digital tools. Digital interventions significantly improved HbA1c, fasting blood sugar, and several behavioral outcomes such as physical activity, medication adherence, and self-efficacy, while effects on psychological outcomes were mixed. CONCLUSION: Digital health interventions, especially phone calls and SMS, effectively improve glycemic control and self-care behaviors, though their impact on psychological outcomes remains inconsistent.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Diabetes in the eastern Mediterranean region.

Socioeconomic development and changes in lifestyles have been accompanied by the emergence of diabetes as a major problem in Eastern Mediterranean countries, but reliable epidemiological data are still scarce and comparability is generally poor. For non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) in adults, risk is higher in urban than in rural subjects, and in all populations prevalence increases with advancing age. Whereas several surveys have reported prevalence of the order of 5%, a recent national survey in Oman, which used the full WHO criteria for diagnosis, based upon the 2 hour blood glucose concentration after a 75 g oral glucose load in all subjects, reported a prevalence of diabetes of 10% in those aged 20 years and over. A further 8% of men and 13% of women had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) was reported to be considerably rarer in Kuwait than in Europe and North America, but some more recent data suggest variability in frequency within the region. IDDM is frequently accompanied by ketoacidosis at diagnosis. For NIDDM, 75% of cases are associated with obesity. Long-term complications appear to occur to the same extent as in Western countries. A recent WHO Task Force meeting has set goals and targets for diabetes prevention and control within the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Dental education in the developing countries and the role of WHO.

The present picture of Dental Manpower in the world is reviewed. The Dentist/Population ratio in 1972 in each of the WHO regions was as follows: African Region 1:96,391, American Region 1:2892, Eastern Mediterranean Region 1:26,188, European Region 1:2948, South East Asia Region 1:81,606, Western Pacific Region 1:4533. There was wide variation of this ratio between individual countries within each region. The present approach to the dental education of all types of dental personnel in the developing countries is described. The activity of WHO in organizing seminars and conference on the needs of the regions in relation to types of dental personnel and their training is discussed. Attention is drawn to the strong recommendation of WHO to plan the dental health manpower training in close conformity with a country's Oral Health needs. The importance of integration of the training programmes for the various categories of dental personnel is stressed.

Dental Care↗
PubMed1976

Distribution of G6PD types in the population of southwest France: common variants and new variants.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was purified from blood samples originating from 33 subjects living in the 'Midi-Pyrenees' region (Southwest France). Biochemical and electrophoretic characteristics of several enzymatic variants were revealed. The distribution of the mutations in the subjects studied gave the following results: (1) Meditteranean Gd(-) and Gd(-)A identified variants; they constitute the main part of our observations. (2) Two original variants confirmed by the WHO International Reference Laboratory, that is: Gd(-) Toulouse and Gd(+) Luz-Saint-Sauveur; the latter mutation did not produce any haematological disorder. Absence of chronic haemolytic anaemia as well as a high rate of favism could be found in the families studied. As it is generally observed in Mediterranean regions, Southwest France population is characterized by a certain heterogeneity in biochemical and genetic mutations.

Erythrocytes↗
PubMed2026

Novel insights into tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus introduction and evolution in Southeastern France using an advanced long-read sequencing workflow.

The Mediterranean population of tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV-ES) is characterized by a high genetic uniformity, distinguishing it from its Asian counterparts. ToLCNDV-ES is thought to have a monophyletic origin, likely resulting from a single recombination event, prior to its spread throughout the Mediterranean region. Following its first detection in southeastern France in 2020, ToLCNDV-ES re-emerged in France in 2022. Our analysis based on advanced long-read sequencing, circular DNA profiling, and phylogeny indicates both local persistence of French ToLCNDV-ES and multiple independent introduction events. Signatures of positive selection were identified in French ToLCNDV-ES populations, whereas no clear evidence of recombination was found. Bayesian time-structured phylogenetic analyses suggest that introductions in France occurred between 2018 and 2021 from the major ToLCNDV-ES clade, while several Italian ToLCNDV-ES isolates diverged prior to the virus introduction in the Mediterranean basin. Overall, this study demonstrates the value of an optimized long-read sequencing approach for resolving circular DNA virus diversity, and sheds light on the complex evolutionary history of ToLCNDV-ES in the Mediterranean Basin, particularly in southeastern France.

France↗
PubMed2026

Rhizobium zaerense sp. nov., a novel member of the Rhizobium leguminosarum species complex with a broad geographic distribution and multiple legume hosts.

A novel nitrogen-fixing rhizobial strain, designated Z1P35ᵀ, was isolated from root nodules of Pisum sativum grown in the Zaër region of Morocco. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene placed strain Z1P35ᵀ within the genus Rhizobium, showing 100% sequence identity with several undescribed genospecies of the Rhizobium leguminosarum species complex (Rlc). Strain Z1P35ᵀ exhibited low average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values with all described Rhizobium species, but high ANI and dDDH values (97.62 and 78.8%, respectively) with Rhizobium sp. SRDI565, representing genospecies M (GsM) of the Rlc, suggesting that Z1P35ᵀ represents a novel species corresponding to GsM within this complex. FastANI screening against all Rhizobium genomes available in GenBank revealed that Z1P35ᵀ shares ANI values above the bacterial species delimitation threshold with 17 unclassified strains, which, together with Z1P35ᵀ and Rhizobium sp. SRDI565 (GsM), form a distinct lineage within the Rlc. These 17 strains originate from root nodules of diverse legume hosts and are distributed across the Mediterranean region and Australia, including representatives of the symbiovars viciae and trifolii. Phylogenomic analysis further confirms the clustering of Z1P35ᵀ with Rhizobium sp. SRDI565 (GsM) and several undescribed Rhizobium strains, forming a unique taxonomic unit clearly distinct from other members of the Rlc. Strain Z1P35ᵀ has a genome of 7.6 Mb with a G+C content of 61 mol% and carries numerous genes associated with chemotaxis, nodulation, nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, iron acquisition and abiotic stress tolerance. Differentiation of Z1P35ᵀ from described Rhizobium species was further supported by phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses. Based on these results, we conclude that Z1P35T belongs to a novel species, corresponding to genospecies M within the Rlc, for which we propose the name Rhizobium zaerense sp. nov. The type strain is Z1P35ᵀ (DSM 120601ᵀ=CCMM B1365ᵀ).

Phylogeny↗
PubMed2025

The genetic basis of chloride exclusion in grapevines.

Mediterranean regions are among the most important areas for global grape production, characterized by dry climates and frequent challenges associated with soil salinity. In these environments, chloride toxicity is a major factor limiting vine growth and fruit quality. Despite the critical role of chloride exclusion in salinity tolerance, the genetic mechanisms underlying this trait remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed natural variation in chloride exclusion using a diverse panel of 335 accessions representing 18 wild and cultivated Vitis species. This panel, comprising accessions from the southwestern United States and Mexico, captures a broad range of evolutionary adaptations to abiotic stress and provides a valuable genetic resource for breeding efforts aimed at introducing novel traits. Using genome-wide association and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, we identified a major QTL on chromosome 8, now designated qClEx8.1, containing candidate genes encoding cation/H⁺ exchangers (CHXs), which are involved in ion transport and homeostasis. To validate these findings, we analyzed a mapping population derived from Vitis acerifolia longii 9018 and the commercial rootstock GRN3, confirming the chromosome 8 locus as a major determinant of chloride exclusion. Structural variant analysis revealed nonsynonymous substitutions within CHX genes that may influence protein function and salinity tolerance. Additionally, we discovered a novel QTL on chromosome 19 enriched with G-type lectin S-receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinases, known regulators of stress signaling. By integrating phenotypic and genomic data across a diverse Vitis collection, this study advances our understanding of the genetic architecture underlying chloride exclusion and highlights candidate genes for breeding salt-tolerant rootstocks.

Vitis↗
PubMed2026

Identification and full genome sequencing of previously unknown sandfly-borne phleboviruses using a newly established capture-based next-generation sequencing approach.

Sandfly-borne phleboviruses cause febrile illness and neuroinvasive disease in humans. While infections are reported in the Mediterranean region, the discovery of previously unknown phleboviruses in sandflies from Kenya suggests a wider geographic distribution. Detection and characterization of novel phleboviruses are often hindered by low-quality and low-viral-load samples. We developed a capture-based target enrichment next-generation sequencing approach that showed a 99%-100% fold enrichment of viral genomes from primary material and provides a robust tool for generating complete genomes of both known and previously unknown viruses. From a collection of 15,652 sandflies in Kenya, we recovered seven complete coding sequences of Embossos, Bogoria, and Kiborgoch viruses, and of two previously unknown phleboviruses, which were named Sosoik and Shable viruses. Sosoik virus shared 83% amino acid identity in its RdRp gene with that of Bogoria virus, while Shable virus shared ca. 88% amino acid identity with viruses of the Salehabad serocomplex. Additionally, a reassortant of Shable virus was detected that possessed an M segment from an undescribed Ponticelli-like virus. DNA barcoding of blood-fed sandflies revealed several potentially novel Sergentomyia species and evidence of host-feeding on humans, livestock, and reptiles, suggesting possibilities for zoonotic transmission. Overall, our findings increase the known genetic diversity of Old World sandfly-borne phlebovirus species from 18 to 25 (by 38.9%), including the detection of viruses from all pathogenic sandfly-borne phlebovirus serocomplexes in East Africa, opening new horizons in disease ecology research.IMPORTANCEKnowledge of the genetic diversity of circulating pathogens is crucial for providing appropriate diagnostics and disease management. This study established a novel capture-based target enrichment next-generation sequencing approach that enabled the near-complete viral genome recovery from primary samples, while native NGS yielded negative or poor-quality results. In addition to the five recently discovered sandfly-borne phleboviruses in Kenya, two previously unknown phleboviruses were detected in sandflies from the same region. The viruses were detected in several sandfly species, which showed diverse host-feeding behaviors, including mixed feeding on humans and chickens. The study significantly advances the understanding of sandfly-borne phleboviruses by uncovering their broader geographic distribution and genetic diversity, particularly in East Africa, highlighting the importance of expanding surveillance efforts beyond traditionally studied regions.

Phlebovirus↗
PubMed1992

The clinical picture of six Egyptian cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a skin disease encountered in the East Mediterranean Region including Egypt. In this paper, it was intended to throw some light on the clinical picture of six parasitologically proven human CL. Also, the results of treating three cases of them with Pontostam or Cryosurgery. The whole results were discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Alpha-chain disease and related small-intestinal lymphoma: a memorandum.

Primary intestinal lymphomas are remarkably frequent in the Mediterranean region and South-West Asia. They are usually found in young persons from the lower socio-economic strata of the population. These conditions sometimes present a premalignant phase characterized by plasmacytic infiltration of the small intestine. It has been reported that early treatment of cases with antibiotics is followed by complete remission, suggesting that some environmental factors may be responsible for the disease. Some patients have an abnormal alpha-chain protein in their serum. This Memorandum reviews the present knowledge of the clinical, immunological, epidemiological, and therapeutic aspects of this condition.

Asia↗
PubMed1977

The T gamma chain of human fetal hemoglobin at birth and in several abnormal hematologic conditions.

The T gamma chain of human fetal hemoglobin has a threonyl in stead of an isoleucyl residue in position 75. When the cord bloods from infants from varied ethnic backgrouds and geographic areas were tested for the presence of the T gamma chain, it was present in 28 or 98 samples. In some groups as many as 40% had the T gamma chain whereas none was detected in other. When the T gamma chain was present, its quantity was about 20% of the total gamma chains, but one case had 35%. Among beta-thalassemia homozygotes of the Mediterranean region, 70% and the T gamma chain in the amount of 20-50% of the total gamma chains, but seven Black beta-thalassemia homozygotes were negative for the T gamma chain. The fetal hemoglobin of 16 adult patients with sickle cell anemia had no T gamma chains, but 2 of 9 newborn children with sickle cell anemia had the T gamma chain. The frequency of the T gamma gene (16), the relationship of the T gamma gene to the G gamma and A gamma genes, and the significance of the T gamma gene are discussed.

Adult↗