Crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever: A seroepidemiological and molecular survey in north of Iran

Abstract

Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is an arboviral zoonotic disease. Numerous genera of ticks serve as both vector and reservoir of CCHF virus. CCHF is an endemic disease in different provinces of Iran. Having used the ELISA method, IgG antibodies against CCHF virus were detected in 12 (38.7%) out of 31 examined sheep. RT-PCR showed CCHFV in 9.52% of hard tick samples. The infected species included Haemaphysalis punctata, Haemaphysalis punctata, Rhipicephalus bursa and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. We revealed presence of Rhipicephalus, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis and Hyalomma genera of ticks in the study area with 9 species. The most frequent ticks were Rhipicephalus bursa and Hyalomma marginatum with a frequency of 40.9% and 11.5% respectively. We also found Haemaphysalis numidiana, Rh. sanguineus, Dermacentor marginatus, H. sulcata, H. punctata, H.v concinna and H. inermis. This study confirms the circulation of the virus in the afore-mentioned region.