Abstract
Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus RNA was detected in immature Hyalomma rufipes ticks infesting northward migratory birds caught in the North Mediterranean Basin. This finding suggests a role for birds in the ecology of the Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus and a potential mechanism for dissemination to novel regions. Increased surveillance is warranted.
Highlights
Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus RNA was detected in immature Hyalomma rufipes ticks infesting northward migratory birds caught in the North Mediterranean Basin
It has been suggested that both Kyasanur Forest disease virus (KFDV) and Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus (AHFV) originated in Africa and that, subsequently, KFDV spread to India and AHFV to Saudi Arabia, KFDV possibly disseminating farther to southern China by migratory birds [2]
In light of these findings, case reports in Africa [6,7,8], and increasing case frequency in Saudi Arabia [11], we investigated whether ticks infesting migratory birds en route from Africa to Europe and Asia during springtime carry AHFV
Summary
Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus RNA was detected in immature Hyalomma rufipes ticks infesting northward migratory birds caught in the North Mediterranean Basin. MH061004–MH061008, MH061010–MH061014), tested positive for AHFV RNA in 2 separate analyses These 5 ticks (4 nymphs, 1 larva) were collected at Andikíthira in 2010 (Table) from 3 bird species that winter in sub-Saharan Africa and breed in Europe (Figure 1, panels A–C). Characteristics of birds infested by ticks testing positive for Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus RNA by real-time PCR, Greece and Turkey, 2010 and 2014
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