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.

Previous studies on the clinical features of meningoencephalitis in Italy did not help to indicate the nature of the causative agents. On the other hand during the past decade nine arboviruses were isolated in Italy, some of which are yet to prove pathogenic for man. A systematic study was carried out in cooperation between the Department of Neurology of the University of Florence and the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Rome), in order to understand a possible role of arboviruses as etiologic agents of meningoencephalitis in Italy; in this preliminary communication the first clinical case of Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE) virus infection is described.

Nine strains of the same virus were isolated from unfed ticks (Haemaphysalis punctata) collected from goats and vegetation in central Italy. Serologic and biological studies differentiated it from other viruses isolated from ixodid ticks in Europe, and complement-fixation tests showed it to be indistinguishable from Bhanja virus. Serologic studies suggest that infection of animals with the virus is widespread in Italy, especially in goats, serum from which was positive by the hemagglutination-inhibition test in 44 (72%) of 61 tests. The virus was first isolated in India and has been found in Nigeria; this is the first report of its presence in Italy. Bhanja virus has not been isolated from a vertebrate, and the assessment of its pathogenicity for man and domestic animals has yet to be determined.

Summary. - Following investigations on a rbo virus vectors in Cen­ tra i ltaly, nine strains of the same virus have b eeo isolated from Haema­ phy salis punctata collectcd in a hilly country in the Latina province, where goats and other domestic animals graze. A study has becn conducted nn bionomics of this vector and related species, whjch appear to b e activc in this area from autumn lhroughout a ll winter. These tick species are successfully reared in laboratory. The isolatcd viruses are now under s tudy a nd it has been stated that they do not beloog to thc TBE complex. Riassunto (Studi sui vettori di arbovinu ttell' ftalia centrale: ricerche sulle zecche). - Dal 1964 e stata condotta una ricerca sulle zecche di'Ila Provincia di Latina, per stabilire l' eventuale presenza di vettori di arbo­ virus. In un lavoro prece dente, e stata dimostrata sierologicamente la circo­ lazione di alcuni a rbovirus, uno dei quali e trasmesso dalle zecche. In cffl'tti , ulteriori ricer che hanno permesso di isola re a.cuni virus da Haemaphy.srtlis pttnctata Canestrini e Fanzago. I virus isolati, in numero di 9, sono risultati eguali tra loro, ma di vMsi da l virus della E ncefalite Centro-europea da zecche (TBE). Delle zecche del genere Haemaphysalis, li. pttnctata risulta f'!!s ere la .., pecie piu abbonda nte ; mentre H. st,lcata c H. otophila sono notevolmente piu rare. Tutte e tre le sp~cie abitualmente si nutrono su animali domestici (c apre, pecore e IH>v ini) sebbene alcuni esemplari di TT. punctata siano s tati anche raccolti su li rin(lceus ll uropaeus. Le zecche digiune sono a ttive cl a l

SummaryA total of 166 sera from adult residents in a northern Italian area (Gorizia province) was examined by the hemagglutination-inhibition test for antibodies against 10 arthropod-borne viruses: two from group A, five from group B, and Bunyamwera and Phlebotomus-fever (Sicilian and Neapolitan strains).Fifty-eight sera (35%) reacted with one or more antigens. No evidence was found of immunity to viruses of group A or to Bunyamwera virus. Twenty sera (12%) reacted with group B viruses, two monotypically with TBE, eight monotypically with WN, and three with a titer with WN greater than with other group B antigens. One serum reacted at very high dilution (1:81, 820) with dengue 1; this donor had lived in Egypt until 1962.Some of the HI-positive sera were further tested with TBE and WN viruses by the mouse-neutralization test. The presence of antibodies was confirmed in the two sera reacting monotypically with TBE. WN-neutralizing antibodies were not evidenced, except in one serum, indicating perhaps the presence of a closely related virus.Forty-five sera (27%) reacted with Phlebotomus-fever antigens (Sicilian and Neapolitan strains) in the HI test. NT antibodies to the Sicilian strain were detected only in two sera among the HI-positive tested.