A fatal case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Mauritania: virological and serological evidence suggesting epidemic transmission.
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), a tick-borne viral zoonosis, is focally endemic throughout parts of Eurasia, the Middle East and Africa. In sub-saharan West Africa only 2 previous cases, both non-fatal, have been reported. We documented a fatal human case of CCHF in south-western Mauritania during May 1988 by demonstrating CCHF virus-specific class M antibodies and by isolating CCHF virus. Five of 7 other patients simultaneously in hospital with haemorrhagic fever symptoms also exhibited elevated immunoglobulin (Ig) G. Healthy family members and contacts of these patients showed an IgG prevalence of 36%; similarly 29% of their sheep also had antibodies. A serosurvey of 1219 sheep from 14 widely dispersed sites throughout southern Mauritania demonstrated IgG prevalences ranging from 4.9% to 43.6%. IgM was found in many herds. These observations demonstrate that CCHF virus is enzootic in southern Mauritania, and suggest a recent period of intense transmission in parts of the region.
Gonzalez
J P
JP
Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Cooperation (ORSTOM), Dakar, Sénégal.
LeGuenno
B
B
Guillaud
M
M
Wilson
M L
ML
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D003225:Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo / Q000276:immunology; D006479:Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D008435:Mauritania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral