title: Genetic analysis and epidemiology of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic fever viruses in Baluchistan province of Pakistan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pakistan is considered as an endemic country for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever with numerous outbreaks and sporadic cases reported during the past two decades. Majority of cases are reported from Baluchistan province with subsequent transmissions to non-endemic regions mainly through infected animals directly or via infested ticks. We hereby describe the molecular investigations of CCHF cases reported during 2008 in Quetta city of Baluchistan province.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum Samples from 44 patients, with clinical signs of hemorrhagic fever attending a tertiary care hospital in Quetta city, were collected and tested for CCHF virus antigen and genomic RNA, using capture IgM EIA kit and standard RT-PCR assay, respectively. The partial S-gene fragments were directly sequenced to get information related to the prevailing CCHFV genotypes and their molecular epidemiology in Pakistan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the total forty four, sixteen (36%) samples were found positive for CCHF IgM. Similarly, viral RNA was detected in six (16%) samples. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all study viruses belong to genotype Asia-1 with closest similarity (99-100%) to the previously reported strains from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that CCHF virus remains endemic within Baluchistan and its neighboring regions of Afghanistan warranting a need of incessant surveillance activities.
authors: Department of Virology, National Institute of Health, Chak Shahzad, Park Road, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan.
authors: Muhammad Masroor
authors: MM
authors: Alam
authors: Adnan
authors: A
authors: Khurshid
authors: Salmaan
authors: S
authors: Sharif
authors: Shahzad
authors: S
authors: Shaukat
authors: Muhammad Suleman
authors: MS
authors: Rana
authors: Mehar
authors: M
authors: Angez
authors: Syed Sohail Zahoor
authors: SS
authors: Zaidi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D003225:Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006479:Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D044967:Serum / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
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