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Molecular detection of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in ticks, Greece, 2012–2014

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Abstract

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is transmitted to humans mainly through the bite of infected ticks. In Greece, only one clinical case has been observed, in 2008, but the seroprevalence in humans is relatively high (4.2%). To have a first insight into the circulation of CCHFV in Greece, 2000 ticks collected from livestock during 2012–2014 were tested. CCHFV was detected in 36 of the 1290 (2.8%) tick pools (1–5 ticks per pool). Two genetic lineages were identified: Europe 1 and Europe 2. Most Europe 1 sequences were obtained from Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks, while most Europe 2 sequences were recovered from Rhipicephalus bursa ticks. The number of collected Hyalomma marginatum ticks (the principal vector of CCHFV) was low (0.5% of ticks) and all were CCHFV negative. Since it is not known how efficient ticks of the Rhipicephalus genus are as vectors of the virus, laboratory studies will be required to explore the role of Rhipicephalus spp. ticks in CCHFV maintenance and transmission.

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported by ANTIGONE and COMPARE EU projects (grant agreement numbers 278976 and 643476, respectively).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Anna Papa, Anastasia Kontana, Katerina Tsioka & Ilias Chaligiannis

  2. Veterinary Research Institute, HAO-Demeter, NAGREF Campus, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Ilias Chaligiannis & Smaragda Sotiraki

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  1. Anna Papa
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  2. Anastasia Kontana
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  3. Katerina Tsioka
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  4. Ilias Chaligiannis
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  5. Smaragda Sotiraki
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Correspondence to Anna Papa.

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Papa, A., Kontana, A., Tsioka, K. et al. Molecular detection of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in ticks, Greece, 2012–2014. Parasitol Res 116, 3057–3063 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5616-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5616-6

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