Serologic and Molecular Evidence for Circulation of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Ticks and Cattle in Zambia

Overview

Journal PLoS Negl Trop Dis

Specialties Infectious Diseases
Tropical Medicine

Date 2021 Jun 1

PMID 34061841

Citations 11

Authors

Masahiro Kajihara

Martin Simuunza

Ngonda Saasa

George Dautu

Akina Mori-Kajihara

Yongjin Qiu

Ryo Nakao

Yoshiki Eto

Hayato Furumoto

Bernard M Hangombe

Yasuko Orba

Hirofumi Sawa

Edgar Simulundu

Shuetsu Fukushi

Shigeru Morikawa

Masayuki Saijo

Jiro Arikawa

Swithine Kabilika

Mwaka Monze

Victor Mukonka

Aaron Mweene

Ayato Takada

Kumiko Yoshimatsu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne zoonosis with a high case fatality rate in humans. Although the disease is widely found in Africa, Europe, and Asia, the distribution and genetic diversity of CCHF virus (CCHFV) are poorly understood in African countries. To assess the risks of CCHF in Zambia, where CCHF has never been reported, epidemiologic studies in cattle and ticks were conducted. Through an indirect immunofluorescence assay, CCHFV nucleoprotein-specific serum IgG was detected in 8.4% (88/1,047) of cattle. Among 290 Hyalomma ticks, the principal vector of CCHFV, the viral genome was detected in 11 ticks. Phylogenetic analyses of the CCHFV S and M genome segments revealed that one of the detected viruses was a genetic reassortant between African and Asian strains. This study provides compelling evidence for the presence of CCHFV in Zambia and its transmission to vertebrate hosts.

Citing Articles

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Unveiling the hidden threats: a review of pathogen diversity and public health risks from bats, rodents, and non-human primates in Zambia (1990-2022).

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Serological evidence of tick-borne Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and Dugbe orthonairovirus infections in cattle in Kwara State in northern Nigeria indicate independent endemics.

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