title: Prevalence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus antibodies in Greek residents in the area where the AP92 strain was isolated.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral disease with fatality rate up to 30%. Up to date, only one CCHF case has been reported in Greece, while a distinct virus strain (AP92) had been isolated in 1975 from ticks in Imathia prefecture, northern Greece. The aim of the present study was to estimate the CCHF virus (CCHFV) seroprevalence among humans residing in the prefecture of Imathia, and the neighboring prefecture of Pella, and to investigate the risk factors associated with the seropositivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 277 persons randomly selected from the general population were tested for the presence of CCHFV IgG antibodies. Additional 51 persons belonging in groups with risk for acquisition of CCHFV infection (19 slaughterhouse workers and 32 hunters) were also tested. All participants filled in a questionnaire related to demographics and probable risk factors (e.g. occupation, former tick bite, animal contact).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six of the 277 (2.2%) persons were found to carry CCHFV IgG antibodies: 3 in Imathia and 3 in Pella prefecture, resulting in seroprevalence of 1.7% and 2.9%, respectively. History of tick bite, residence in a hilly territory and increased age were significantly associated with CCHFV seropositivity. None of the slaughterers was found IgG-positive, while CCHFV IgG antibodies were detected in a 67-year old hunter who reported agricultural activities and a former tick bite.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A relatively low seroprevalence is observed in the area where the AP92 strain has been isolated, with tick bite being significantly associated with CCHFV seropositivity. Further studies in ticks in the area will show whether are they infected by the AP92 strain or other more pathogenic CCHFV strains and at which rate.
authors.affiliation: A' Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sidira
authors.affiliation: Blood Bank Unit, Naoussa General Hospital, Naoussa, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nikza
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention & Department of Interventions in Health Care Facilities, Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Danis
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Panagiotopoulos
authors.affiliation: Blood Bank Unit, Naoussa General Hospital, Naoussa, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Samara
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention & Department of Interventions in Health Care Facilities, Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Hc
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maltezou
authors.affiliation: A' Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papa
keywords: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus; Greece; seroprevalence; strain AP92