Prevalence Of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Research Articles

Seroprevalence of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Indian cattle and buffaloes.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an emerging tick-borne viral zoonotic disease of public health importance. Cattle and buffaloes although not showing any clinical symptoms, can be infected by the CCHF virus and act as sources of infection to human beings. The prevalence of CCHF in cattle and buffaloes is important from One health perspective for control of CCHF in humans. A cross-sectional study was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of CCHFV in cattle and buffaloes of India. A total of 804 serum samples from four states of India (Gujarat and Rajasthan: human outbreaks reported; Punjab and Haryana: no outbreak reported) were screened by ELISA test detecting nucleoprotein antibodies of CCHFV. The overall true prevalence was 8.63% (95% CI: 6.76% - 10.9%). The highest prevalence was recorded in Rajasthan (13.24%) followed by Gujarat (8.68%), Haryana (6.84%), and Punjab (6.51%). Prevalence of CCHF was higher in cattle (9.92%) than buffaloes (5.84%); in females (10.87%) than males (4.99%); in adults (10.18%) than young ones (5.66%). Interestingly, higher seropositivity was recorded in indigenous cattle (12.04%) than in exotic and cross-breed cattle (1.69%) which was statistically significant (p=0.001). These findings revealed CCHF virus is circulating unnoticed and the prevalence has increased over time which is of public health concern.

Seroepidemiology of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) in Cattle across Three Livestock Pastoral Regions in Kenya

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne zoonotic disease, endemic in Africa, with a high case fatality rate. There is no efficient treatment or licensed vaccine. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of CCHFV in cattle in extensive grazing systems (both pastoralism and ranching) within the Maasai Mara ecosystem, Nanyuki, and the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. We conducted a seroepidemiological study of the sera of 148 cattle from 18 households from the three ecosystems in 2014, 2016, and 2019. Sera from 23 sheep and 17 goats were also obtained from the same households during the same period. Sera were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to CCHFV using the commercially available double-antigen ELISA kit. Overall, 31.5% CCHFV seropositivity was observed. The prevalence of CCHF was analyzed using a multiple logistic mixed model with main predictors. Risk factors associated with exposure to CCHFV were age (p = 0.000) and season (p = 0.007). Our findings suggest exposure to CCHFV and point to cattle as likely reservoirs of CCHFV in Kenya. The findings might play a role in providing better insights into disease risk and dynamics where analysis of tick populations in these regions should be further investigated.

Tick-borne Diseases in Sheep and Goats in Pakistan: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Ticks are blood-sucking ectoparasites and transmit various types of protozoal, bacterial, and viral diseases in a wild as well as domestic animals and humans globally. Only a few published reports are avaliableon theprevalence of tick-borne diseases in sheep and goats in Pakistan. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the prevalence (2000-2020) of tick-borne disease (theileriosis, babesiosis, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever infection, and anaplasmosis) in sheep and goats in Pakistan. A systematic review of articlespublished in English language (since 2000-2020) was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. Diagnostic methods used in the original reference articles were PCR, PCR-RLB, microscopy, and ELISA. The overall prevalence of theileriosis, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) infections was 15.40%, 21.18%, 26.78%, and 11.62%, respectively. The prevalence of anaplasmosis was 22.06% (90/408) in sheep, 21.11% (76/360) in goats, and 40% (120/300) in both sheep and goats with substantial differences (P < 0.001). The prevalence of babesiosis among sheep was 29.88% (104/348) with highly significant differences (P < 0.001), in goats was 29.88% (25/60) with slightly significant differences (P < 0.031%), and in both sheep and goats were 7% (21/300) with highly significant differences (P < 0.001) according to subgroup analysis. The percentage of prevalence of theileriosis was 17.70% (207/1169) in sheep with highly substantial differences (P < 0.001), 4.51% (31/687) in goats with significant differences (P < 0.133), and 25% (125/500) in both sheep and goats with a significant difference among them (P < 0.001). The prevalence of CCHF among sheep was 18.63% (149/800) and 4.63% (37/800) in goats, respectively. The widely used detection method was microscopy (45.56%) followed by ELISA (38.38%), PCR (12.56%), and PCR-RLB (3.48%) test, respectively. This is a comprehensive report on the status of tick-borne disease in sheep and goats in Pakistan. Based on our results, among tick-borne diseases anaplasmosis had the highest prevalence rate in sheep and goats. Due to its high prevalence, control measures should be taken to diagnose and prevent it.

Seroprevalence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in humans in the World Health Organization European region: A systematic review.

BackgroundCrimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an emerging infectious disease caused by a Nairovirus. CCHF is a tick-borne disease that is predominantly associated with Hyalomma ticks and have a widespread distribution in Africa, Asia and Europe. CCHF usually presents as a subclinical disease, but in some cases, it may present as a hemorrhagic fever with a high mortality rate. This systematic review of the literature was performed to identify the available evidence on the prevalence of CCHF in the European Region of the World Health Organization, based on seroprevalence (IgG antibodies).MethodologyA systematic review was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement protocol. PubMed, Embase, and the Web of Science were used for the search (up to January 31, 2019), combining the following MeSH terms: [“Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever” OR “Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus” OR “Congo-Crimea” OR “Crimea-Congo”] AND [“Europe”] AND [“epidemiology” OR “seroprevalence”]. The abstracts were screened. Subsequently, full-text articles were selected and reviewed based on the PICOS (Population-Intervention-Comparison-Outcomes-Study type) criteria by two independent reviewers for inclusion in the final analysis. The data were qualitatively synthesized without quantitative pooling due to the heterogeneity in the study populations and methodologies.Principal findingsThirty articles (9 from western Europe, 18 from central Europe and 3 from eastern Europe) were included in the analysis. All articles were cross-sectional studies (descriptive studies).ConclusionsThe highest seroprevalence of CCHF is found in central and eastern European countries. Southern and western Europe countries, such as Greece and Spain, have low levels of endemicity, but the spread of the infection, which is associated with climate change, is a possibility that we should keep in mind. Further studies, especially larger seroprevalence studies in humans and animals, are needed to establish the current status of the CCHF epidemiology and to generate standardized guidelines for action in the region.

Prevalence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Pakistan and its new research progress

Maria Saleem, Syed Zawar Shah, Asma Haidari, Fatima Idrees Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan Center of Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia Sardar Begum Dental College, University of Gandhara, Peshawar, Pakistan Journal of Coastal Life Medicine 2016; 4(4): 259-262

Prevalence of crimean-congo hemorrhagic Fever among high risk human groups.

Background:Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), an acute viral infection, is a zoonotic disease which is transmitted to humans by infected ticks, direct contact with fresh meat or blood of infected animals (usually domestic livestock), or direct contact with the blood or secretions of an infected person. Livestock handlers, skin processors, veterinary staff, livestock market workers, and other personnel engaged in jobs requiring some contact with animals and/or animal products are at high risk for CCHF. Most reported cases of this disease in Iran belong to butchers and slaughterhouse workers.Objectives:We aimed to study the prevalence of CCHF in slaughterhouse workers and livestock handlers who were admitted to Boo-ali Hospital for treatment of CCHF.Materials and Methods:We evaluated all patients’ files with confirmed CCHF admitted to Boo-ali Hospital in Zahedan, in southeastern part of Iran, during 1999-2011. Then, we examined the prevalence of disease among the high risk groups.Results:Out of 362 patients with CCHF (86% male, 14% female; with age range 12-78 years), 123 (34%) were slaughterhouse workers, 103 (28.5%) livestock handlers and farmers, 32 (9%) housewives, 7 (2%) students, 6 (1.9%) teachers, 4 (1.2%) military personnel, and other groups were workers with different employments.Conclusions:The present study showed that CCHF is highly prevalent in high risk occupational groups in Zahedan, Iran. Further surveillance, teaching and prevention programs are recommended.

Thematic stream: systemic autoimmune disease: BPP4. Four Novel Mefv Gene Mutations in A Population where the Prevalence of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever and Mefv Gene Carrier Status is Very High

Purpose: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne disease caused by an arbovirus in the family Bunyaviridae, which is associated with high mortality. CCHF is common in mid Anatolia where FMF is also very prevalent (1.2%), thus MEFV gene carrier status is very high (44%).To test our hypothesis that a selective biological advantage obtained by a carrier state for MEFV mutations may enhance the host’s ability to withstand CCHF, we studied the distribution of MEFV gene mutations in patients with CCHF. Methods: MEFV gene mutations of exon 2 and 10 were detected with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing in 100 patients with CCHF with a definite diagnosis of CCHF followed in Cumhuriyet University, Sivas / Turkey, (mean age 45.6 ± 17, 58 M: 42 F) and in 91 healthy blood donors (HC) living in the same area. All CCHF patients were classified into two groups in terms of disease severity (mild and severe), according to the predictive factors for fatal outcome reported by Swanepoel et al. (1). Results: Four new mutations were found on exon 10 of 7 CCHF patients and none of the healthy controls. A database search for these novel mutations was negative. The loci of these new MEVF gene mutations on exon 10 are as follows: Q778L, R717Q, P754A and R737K. Q778L mutation was found in four patients, one had a mild whereas the remaining 3 had severe disease. Carrier of R717Q had a severe disease and died, however the carriers of P754A and R737K had mild disease course. All of these patients except the one who died were reevaluated for co-existence of FMF but none had any personal or familial history of FMF. Conclusion: Here we describe 4 novel MEFV gene mutations in patients with CCHF from a geographical area where MEFV gene carriership is very high. We do not yet know whether these mutations have any effect on the host’s ability to withstand an infection.