title: Molecular epidemiology of Crimean- Congo hemorrhagic fever virus genome isolated from ticks of Hamadan province of Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus is a tick-borne member of the genus Nairovirus, family Bunyaviridae. CCHFV has been isolated from at least 31 different tick species. The virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick, or by direct contact with CCHFV-infected patients or the products of infected livestock. This study was undertaken to study the genetic relationship and distribution of CCHFV in the tick population of Hamadan province of Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, RT-PCR has been used for detection of the CCHFV genome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This genome was detected in 19.2% of the ticks collected from livestock of different regions of the Hamadan province in western Iran. The infected species belonged to Hyalomma detritum, H. anatolicum, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Argas reflexus. With one exception, genetic analysis of the virus genome isolates showed high sequence identity to each other. Even though they clustered in the same group with the strain circulating in Iran, they had a closer relationship to the Matin strain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vector control programs should be applied for reducing population density of potential tick vectors in this province. Further surveys are indicated in this region to provide a better view of the distribution and epidemiology of the virus.
authors.affiliation: Islamic Azad University, Research and Science Branch, Tehran.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tahmasebi
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ghiasi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mostafavi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Piazak
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mozafari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haeri
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Fooks
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chinikar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000145:classification / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D016679:Genome, Viral; D003225:Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006479:Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D013987:Ticks / Q000145:classification / Q000821:virology*