1
|
S. Celina S, Černý J. Genetic background of adaptation of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus to the different tick hosts. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302224. [PMID: 38662658 PMCID: PMC11045102 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever orthonairovirus (CCHFV) is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus with a segmented genome and the causative agent of a severe Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) disease. The virus is transmitted mainly by tick species in Hyalomma genus but other ticks such as representatives of genera Dermacentor and Rhipicephalus may also be involved in virus life cycle. To improve our understanding of CCHFV adaptation to its tick species, we compared nucleotide composition and codon usage patterns among the all CCHFV strains i) which sequences and other metadata as locality of collection and date of isolation are available in GenBank and ii) which were isolated from in-field collected tick species. These criteria fulfilled 70 sequences (24 coding for S, 23 for M, and 23 for L segment) of virus isolates originating from different representatives of Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus genera. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed that Hyalomma- and Rhipicephalus-originating CCHFV isolates belong to phylogenetically distinct CCHFV clades. Analyses of nucleotide composition among the Hyalomma- and Rhipicephalus-originating CCHFV isolates also showed significant differences, mainly in nucleotides located at the 3rd codon positions indicating changes in codon usage among these lineages. Analyses of codon adaptation index (CAI), effective number of codons (ENC), and other codon usage statistics revealed significant differences between Hyalomma- and Rhipicephalus-isolated CCHFV strains. Despite both sets of strains displayed a higher adaptation to use codons that are preferred by Hyalomma ticks than Rhipicephalus ticks, there were distinct codon usage preferences observed between the two tick species. These findings suggest that over the course of its long co-evolution with tick vectors, CCHFV has optimized its codon usage to efficiently utilize translational resources of Hyalomma species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seyma S. Celina
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Center for Infectious Animal Diseases, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Černý
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Center for Infectious Animal Diseases, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Duscher GG, Kienberger S, Haslinger K, Holzer B, Zimpernik I, Fuchs R, Schwarz M, Hufnagl P, Schiefer P, Schmoll F. Hyalomma spp. in Austria—The Tick, the Climate, the Diseases and the Risk for Humans and Animals. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091761. [PMID: 36144363 PMCID: PMC9502680 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, ticks of Hyalomma spp. have been found more often in areas previously lacking this tick species. Due to their important role as a vector of different diseases, such as Crimean-Congo-hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), the occurrence and potential spread of this tick species is of major concern. So far, eight Hyalomma sp. ticks were found between 2018 and 2021 in Austria. A serological investigation on antibodies against the CCHF virus in 897 cattle as indicator animals displayed no positive case. During observation of climatic factors, especially in the period from April to September, the year 2018 displayed an extraordinary event in terms of higher temperature and dryness. To estimate the risk for humans to come in contact with Hyalomma sp. in Austria, many parameters have to be considered, such as the resting place of birds, availability of large livestock hosts, climate, density of human population, etc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Georg Gerhard Duscher
- AGES Research Services, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Spargelfeldstrasse, 1220 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43 664 9668350
| | - Stefan Kienberger
- ZAMG—Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Klaus Haslinger
- ZAMG—Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Barbara Holzer
- Division of Animal Health, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, 2340 Mödling, Austria
| | - Irene Zimpernik
- Division of Animal Health, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, 2340 Mödling, Austria
| | - Reinhard Fuchs
- Department for Data, Statistic and Risk Assessment, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Michael Schwarz
- Department for Data, Statistic and Risk Assessment, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, 1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Hufnagl
- Division for Public Health, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Schiefer
- Office of the Provincial Government of Salzburg, Veterinary Directorate, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Friedrich Schmoll
- Division of Animal Health, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, 2340 Mödling, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Goletic T, Satrovic L, Softic A, Omeragic J, Goletic S, Soldo DK, Spahic AK, Zuko A, Satrovic E, Alic A. Serologic and molecular evidence for circulation of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in ticks and cattle in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102004. [PMID: 35834930 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus is a tick-borne zoonotic agent of the genus Orthonairovirus, and the causal agent of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in humans. The study is aimed at investigating the presence of CCHFV RNA in ticks and cattle in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), as well as the exposure of cattle to CCHFV in this country. Only one pool of three male Hyalomma marginatum ticks tested positive for viral RNA (3/760, 0.39%). No viral RNA was detected in 206 bovine blood samples using real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR). The overall seroprevalence of CCHFV in the cattle population was estimated as 14.97% (72/481). The results indicate the presence and the established circulation of CCHFV in B&H. Considering the endemic character of CCHFV in the Balkans as well as our results, the possibility that CCHFV is endemic in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina is considered to be very high.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teufik Goletic
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | - Lejla Satrovic
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Adis Softic
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Jasmin Omeragic
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Sejla Goletic
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Darinka Klaric Soldo
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Amira Koro Spahic
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Almedina Zuko
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Edin Satrovic
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Amer Alic
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nasirian H. Ticks infected with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV): A decision approach systematic review and meta-analysis regarding their role as vectors. Travel Med Infect Dis 2022; 47:102309. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2022.102309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
|
5
|
First Serological Evidence of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus and Rift Valley Fever Virus in Ruminants in Tunisia. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10060769. [PMID: 34207423 PMCID: PMC8234966 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV, Nairoviridae family) and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV, Phenuiviridae family) are zoonotic vector-borne pathogens with clinical relevance worldwide. Our study aimed to determine seroprevalences of these viruses and potential risk factors among livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) in Tunisia. Sera were tested for antibodies against CCHFV (n = 879) and RVFV (n = 699) using various enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and indirect immunofluorescence assays (IIFA). The overall seroprevalence of IgG antibodies was 8.6% (76/879) and 2.3% (16/699) against CCHFV and RVFV, respectively. For CCHF seropositivity bioclimatic zones and breed were potential risk factors for the three tested animal species; while the season was associated with cattle and sheep seropositivity, tick infestation was associated with cattle and goats seropositivity and age as a risk factor was only associated with cattle seropositivity. Age and season were significantly associated with RVFV seropositivity in sheep. Our results confirm the circulation of CCHFV and RVFV in Tunisia and identified the principal risk factors in ruminants. This knowledge could help to mitigate the risk of ruminant infections and subsequently also human infections.
Collapse
|
6
|
Körner S, Makert GR, Ulbert S, Pfeffer M, Mertens-Scholz K. The Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in Hard Ticks in Europe and Their Role in Q Fever Transmission Revisited-A Systematic Review. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:655715. [PMID: 33981744 PMCID: PMC8109271 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.655715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The zoonosis Q fever is caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Besides the main transmission route via inhalation of contaminated aerosols, ticks are discussed as vectors since the first isolation of the pathogen from a Dermacentor andersonii tick. The rare detection of C. burnetii in ticks and the difficult differentiation of C. burnetii from Coxiella-like endosymbionts (CLEs) are questioning the relevance of ticks in the epidemiology of Q fever. In this review, literature databases were systematically searched for recent prevalence studies concerning C. burnetii in ticks in Europe and experimental studies evaluating the vector competence of tick species. A total of 72 prevalence studies were included and evaluated regarding DNA detection methods and collection methods, country, and tested tick species. Specimens of more than 25 different tick species were collected in 23 European countries. Overall, an average prevalence of 4.8% was determined. However, in half of the studies, no Coxiella-DNA was detected. In Southern European countries, a significantly higher prevalence was observed, possibly related to the abundance of different tick species here, namely Hyalomma spp. and Rhipicephalus spp. In comparison, a similar proportion of studies used ticks sampled by flagging and dragging or tick collection from animals, under 30% of the total tick samples derived from the latter. There was no significant difference in the various target genes used for the molecular test. In most of the studies, no distinction was made between C. burnetii and CLEs. The application of specific detection methods and the confirmation of positive results are crucial to determine the role of ticks in Q fever transmission. Only two studies were available, which assessed the vector competence of ticks for C. burnetii in the last 20 years, demonstrating the need for further research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Körner
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses (IBIZ), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Jena, Germany
| | - Gustavo R Makert
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ulbert
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Katja Mertens-Scholz
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses (IBIZ), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ponosheci-Biçaku A, Ahmeti S, Trkulja V, Biçaku A, Tešović G. First Data on Human Lyme Borreliosis in Kosovo: Prospective Evaluation of the Disease from a Tick Bite Perspective. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:247-255. [PMID: 33534638 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Lyme borreliosis (LB) occurs throughout Europe. No clinical and seroprevalence studies for LB in Kosovo have been publicly available thus far. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate LB from a tick bite perspective in the Pristina region, Kosovo. Methods: This single-center prospective observational study enrolled consecutive adult participants (≥18 years of age) with tick bite (embedded tick in the skin), who were examined at the Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Pristina, between January 2015 and August 2018. At the first visit related to the index tick bite, ticks (the complete ticks or parts of the ticks) were removed from the skin, blood samples were taken for serological tests, and antibiotic treatment was started when deemed necessary. The complete, undamaged ticks removed were proceeded for entomological identification. Participants were followed up at 2 months (serological tests were repeated) and 6 months after the index event for the development of clinical manifestations of LB and/or seroconversion against Borrelia burgdorferi. Results: A total of 380 subjects were included in the study. Most cases were seen in May and June in all study years. All 117 preserved ticks were identified as Ixodes ricinus. Immunoglobulin G seroprevalence among subjects during the first visit in the study was 28/380 (7.4%). Erythema migrans (EM) was clinically diagnosed in 74/380 patients (19.5%, 95% confidence interval 15.6-23.8). Only 15 clinically diagnosed EM (in seronegative patients) were serologically confirmed with seroconversion (2 months later), 3.9% of all subjects included in the study. There were three cases with clinical manifestation between the second and third visit: EM recidivans, multiple erythema, or several nonspecific systemic symptoms. Doxycycline and amoxicillin were mainly used for the treatment of borrelial skin lesions. Conclusion: This assessment can help indicate the need for disease awareness and reinforce the importance of primary prevention measures, early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Albina Ponosheci-Biçaku
- Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, University of Pristina "Hasan Pristina," Pristina, Kosovo
| | - Salih Ahmeti
- Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, University of Pristina "Hasan Pristina," Pristina, Kosovo
| | - Vladimir Trkulja
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ardian Biçaku
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, University of Pristina "Hasan Pristina," Pristina, Kosovo
| | - Goran Tešović
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljević," Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
High prevalence and different genotypes of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus genome in questing unfed adult Hyalomma marginatum in Thrace, Turkey. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 12:101622. [PMID: 33388553 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral disease in the old continents, in many countries south of the 50 °North Parallel. The agent is known to be the most prevalent and major cause of severe and fatal human hemorrhagic diseases among the tick-borne viruses, and is the second most widespread of all medically critical arboviruses following dengue. Members of the Hyalomma genus are mainly involved in the natural transmission of the CCHF virus (CCHFV); of those, H. marginatum is known to be the primary vector of the disease in the Western Palaearctic. In general, epidemiological studies have been based on serological detections in the hosts and/or virus screening of ticks collected from the hosts. To the best of our knowledge, only a few studies have been carried out to screen the virus in unfed, questing field ticks. Nevertheless, detection of the virus in questing ticks is known to be a crucial parameter to determine the possible vector roles of the ticks and to understand the ecological dynamics of related diseases. In this study, 200 (75 males,125 females) questing H. marginatum adults collected from the field in nine villages in Thrace, located in the European part of Turkey, were screened individually for CCHFV using nested PCR. As a result, 103 (51.5 %) ticks were determined as positive with various strains of CCHFV. High positivity in questing vectors in a region where a significantly lower number of human cases have been encountered suggests that there should be some region-specific drivers that are effective in the natural dynamics of the disease. Detailed etiological and epidemiological studies are needed to reveal the possible reason for this unexpected discrepancy.
Collapse
|
9
|
Sinani A, Aliu H, Latifi F, Haziri I, Xhekaj B, Kampen H, Sherifi K. First serological evidence of infections with selected vector-borne pathogens in dogs in Kosovo. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:3863-3868. [PMID: 32974769 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06894-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Canine vector-borne pathogens are a group of widespread microorganisms and nematodes transmitted by arthropods that do not only impact dog health but may also pose a health risk to humans as many of them are zoonotic. As no data exist on the presence of canine vector-borne pathogens in Kosovo, we here present a first study on the seroprevalence of selected vector-borne pathogens, the dog heartworm Dirofilaria immitis and the bacteria Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. The study was carried out from July to October 2019 in all regions of Kosovo and included 149 clinically healthy dogs (84 owned, 40 sheltered and 25 free-ranging). Blood samples collected from each individual were tested using a commercially available rapid multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In total, 37.6% of the examined dogs were seropositive for one or more of the target pathogens. Most frequently, antibodies were found against Anaplasma spp. (24.8% of the dogs tested), followed by antigen detection of D. immitis (14.8%) and antibodies of B. burgdorferi s.l. (1.3%). The lowest antibody prevalence (0.7%) showed E. canis where only one dog was found positive. This preliminary study demonstrates the circulation of several zoonotic vector-borne pathogens in natural cycles involving dogs in Kosovo. It should trigger studies on infection prevalences in humans and initiate vector surveillance programmes in order to manage and control transmission and the diseases associated with the pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arben Sinani
- Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina", Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Hamdi Aliu
- Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina", Prishtina, Kosovo.
| | - Fatgzim Latifi
- Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina", Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Imer Haziri
- Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina", Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Betim Xhekaj
- Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina", Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Helge Kampen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Insel Riems, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kurtesh Sherifi
- Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina", Prishtina, Kosovo
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kasi KK, Arnim F, Schulz A, Rehman A, Chudhary A, Oneeb M, Sas MA, Jamil T, Maksimov P, Sauter‐Louis C, Conraths FJ, Groschup MH. Crimean‐Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in ticks collected from livestock in Balochistan, Pakistan. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 67:1543-1552. [DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Khushal Khan Kasi
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Epidemiology Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
- Livestock and Dairy Development Department Disease Investigation Laboratory Quetta Balochistan Pakistan
| | - Felicitas Arnim
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
| | - Ansgar Schulz
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
| | - Abdul Rehman
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore Pakistan
| | - Amna Chudhary
- Department of Parasitology University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Oneeb
- Department of Parasitology University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore Pakistan
| | - Miriam Andrada Sas
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
| | - Tariq Jamil
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute for Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses Jena Germany
| | - Pavlo Maksimov
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Epidemiology Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
| | - Carola Sauter‐Louis
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Epidemiology Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
| | - Franz J. Conraths
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Epidemiology Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
| | - Martin H. Groschup
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kasi KK, Sas MA, Sauter-Louis C, von Arnim F, Gethmann JM, Schulz A, Wernike K, Groschup MH, Conraths FJ. Epidemiological investigations of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus infection in sheep and goats in Balochistan, Pakistan. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 11:101324. [PMID: 31757688 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne zoonotic disease caused by the arbovirus Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). Livestock serve as a transient reservoir for CCHFV, but do not show clinical signs. In this cross-sectional study, sheep and goats in Balochistan, Pakistan, were examined to determine the CCHFV seroprevalence, spatial distribution of seropositive sheep and goats, and to identify potential risk factors for seropositivity to CCHFV in these animals. To this end, farms and animals were selected by systematic sampling, blood samples from 800 sheep and 800 goats were collected and information regarding farm management and the kept animals were retrieved using a standard questionnaire. Sera were tested for antibodies against CCHFV in two independent ELISA formats and an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) following a hierarchical diagnostic decision tree. By these assays 149 (19 %, 95 %-CI: 16-21 %) out of 800 sheep serum samples and 37 (5 %, 95 %-CI: 3-6 %) out of 800 goat serum samples were positive for CCHFV-specific IgG antibodies. Interestingly, at least 8 (5 %, 95 %-CI: 2-10 %) out of 160 sera pools were from CCHFV viraemic sheep, as sera (in pools of 5) tested positive for CCHFV genome by real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). Risk factor analysis revealed that the open type of housing (OR = 3.76, 95 %-CI:1.57-9.56, p-value = 0.003), grazing (OR = 4.18, 95 %-CI:1.79-10.37, p-value = 0.001), presence of vegetation in or around the farm (OR = 3.13, 95 %-CI: 1.07-10.15, p-value = 0.043), lack of treatment against ticks (OR = 3.31, 95 %-CI: 1.16-10.21, p-value = 0.029), absence of rural poultry (OR = 2.93, 95 %-CI: 1.41-6.29, p-value = 0.004), animals with age ≥ 2 years (OR = 4.15, 95 %-CI: 2.84-6.19, p-value<0.001), animals infested with ticks (OR = 2.35, 95 %-CI: 1.59-3.52, p-value<0.001), and sheep species (OR = 4.72, 95 %-CI:3.24-6.86, p-value<0.001) represented statistically significant risk factors associated with seropositivity to CCHFV. Taken together this study confirms the circulation of CCHFV in livestock in Balochistan, Pakistan. The identification of risk factors might help to reduce the risk of infection in sheep and goats, which may also mitigate the risk for human infection. An interesting option for reducing the risk of CCHFV infection in small ruminants is keeping also chickens, since they pick ticks that transmit CCHFV.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khushal Khan Kasi
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; Disease Investigation Laboratory, Livestock and Dairy Development Department Balochistan, Pakistan
| | - Miriam Andrada Sas
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Carola Sauter-Louis
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Felicitas von Arnim
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Jörn Martin Gethmann
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Ansgar Schulz
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Kerstin Wernike
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin H Groschup
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Franz J Conraths
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Mazzola LT, Kelly-Cirino C. Diagnostic tests for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever: a widespread tickborne disease. BMJ Glob Health 2019; 4:e001114. [PMID: 30899574 PMCID: PMC6407549 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a widespread tickborne disease that circulates in wild and domestic animal hosts, and causes severe and often fatal haemorrhagic fever in infected humans. Due to the lack of treatment options or vaccines, and a high fatality rate, CCHF virus (CCHFV) is considered a high-priority pathogen according to the WHO R&D Blueprint. Several commercial reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and serological diagnostic assays for CCHFV are already available, including febrile agent panels to distinguish CCHFV from other viral haemorrhagic fever agents; however, the majority of international laboratories use inhouse assays. As CCHFV has numerous amplifying animal hosts, a cross-sectoral 'One Health' approach to outbreak prevention is recommended to enhance notifications and enable early warning for genetic and epidemiological shifts in the human, animal and tick populations. However, a lack of guidance for surveillance in animals, harmonisation of case identification and validated serodiagnostic kits for animal testing hinders efforts to strengthen surveillance systems. Additionally, as RT-PCR tests tend to be lineage-specific for regional circulating strains, there is a need for pan-lineage sensitive diagnostics. Adaptation of existing tests to point-of-care molecular diagnostic platforms that can be implemented in clinic or field-based settings would be of value given the potential for CCHFV outbreaks in remote or low-resource areas. Finally, improved access to clinical specimens for validation of diagnostics would help to accelerate development of new tests. These gaps should be addressed by updated target product profiles for CCHFV diagnostics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura T Mazzola
- Emerging Threats Programme, Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Cassandra Kelly-Cirino
- Emerging Threats Programme, Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|