title: Ecology of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever endemic area in Albania.
abstract: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is endemic in Albania. Ticks collected from cattle grazing in the endemic areas of Albania were tested for presence of CCHFV RNA, while serum samples collected from goats, cattle, hares, and birds were tested for the presence of specific IgG antibodies to CCHFV. One of the 31 pools prepared, consisting of four female Hyalomma spp. ticks, was found to carry CCHFV RNA with 99.2-100% homology to sequences detected in patients from the same region. Antibodies were not detected in cattle, hares, and birds, but 2/10 goats presented high titers of IgG antibodies. The shepherd of that flock was a member of a family affected by CCHF 10 days before the collection of goats' sera, and he presented a mild form of the disease.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Microbiology (WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Arboviruses and Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses), Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. annap@med.auth.gr
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.forename: Enkelejda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Velo
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.forename: Gjyle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cahani
authors.forename: Majlinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kota
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bino
mesh_terms: D000415:Albania / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D001717:Birds / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D002417:Cattle; D030561:Databases, Nucleic Acid; D017753:Ecosystem; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D034621:Hares / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D003225:Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006479:Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D013987:Ticks / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G