Ecology of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever endemic area in Albania.
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.
Papa
Anna
A
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
Velo
Enkelejda
E
Papadimitriou
Evangelia
E
Cahani
Gjyle
G
Kota
Majlinda
M
Bino
Silvia
S
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
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G