Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever infection in domestic animals in Marmara region, Western Turkey


Tuncer P., YEŞİLBAĞ K., Alpay G., Dincer E., GİRİŞGİN A. O., AYDIN L., ...More

ANKARA UNIVERSITESI VETERINER FAKULTESI DERGISI, vol.61, no.1, pp.49-53, 2014 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 61 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2014
  • Doi Number: 10.1501/vetfak_0000002604
  • Journal Name: ANKARA UNIVERSITESI VETERINER FAKULTESI DERGISI
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.49-53
  • Keywords: Cattle, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, ELISA, real-time RT-PCR, sheep, Turkey, TICK SURVEY, VIRUS CCHFV, ANTIBODIES, LIVESTOCK
  • Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has been an important health issue in Turkey since the last decade. Although there is a well-described endemic area, the infection tends to disseminate into non-endemic areas. In the South Marmara region, a non-endemic area, serological and virological investigations were performed to evaluate the infection status in livestock animals. Among 508 blood samples collected from 5 different locations, 33.1% were positive for CCHF-neutralizing antibodies. The highest seroprevalence rate was detected in goats (66.0%), followed by sheep (31.8%) and cattle (13.0%) (p<0.0001). There were extensive differences in seroprevalence rates in neighboring locations, i.e., 7.8% in Keles and 47.6% in the Orhaneli district of Bursa province. Using antigen-capture ELISA (Ag-ELISA) and real-time reverse transcription PCR (rt RT-PCR), 6.6% of the tested animals were found to be viremic at the time of sampling. Two samples that were negative by Ag-ELISA produced a positive signal in rt RT-PCR, indicating the higher sensitivity of the latter method for detecting viremic animals. The results of this study demonstrate the wide distribution of CCHF virus in some locations in a non-endemic area, which may lead to the generation of focal infectious areas.