title: A novel AP92-like Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus strain, Greece.
abstract: Ticks were collected from various regions of northern Greece and tested for the presence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) RNA. Human and animal sera were collected in the regions where CCHFV-positive ticks were detected, and they were tested for the presence of IgG antibodies against the virus. A CCHFV strain was detected in Rhipicephalus bursa ticks collected from sheep in Kastoria regional unit, differing by 9.7% at the nucleotide level from the AP92 strain, which was isolated in 1975 in another region of Greece. Up to date, CCHF cases have not been reported in these regions. The human seroprevalence in the area was estimated at 6%, while IgG-positive sheep was detected in two of the four neighboring farms tested. The circulation of this specific CCHFV lineage in Greece, especially in a region where the seroprevalence is high, together with the lack of human CCHF cases, suggests a probable antigenic, but non- or low-pathogenic character of this lineage. Further studies on these strains will increase our knowledge about the role of AP92-like strains in the CCHF epidemiology, which might be useful for drug and vaccine design.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: annap@med.auth.gr.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Papa
authors: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; Veterinary Research Institute, HAO-Demeter (former NAGREF), NAGREF Campus, PO Box 60272, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Ilias
authors: I
authors: Chaligiannis
authors: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Natasa
authors: N
authors: Kontana
authors: Argos Orestiko Health Center, 52200 Argos Orestiko, Kastoria, Greece.
authors: Tatiana
authors: T
authors: Sourba
authors: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Katerina
authors: K
authors: Tsioka
authors: Laboratory of GeoInformatics, Department of Surveying Engineering, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Greece.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Tsatsaris
authors: Argos Orestiko Health Center, 52200 Argos Orestiko, Kastoria, Greece.
authors: Smaragda
authors: S
authors: Sotiraki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D003225:Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006479:Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D048494:Rhipicephalus / Q000821:virology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: AP92-like strain; Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever; Greece; Ticks