title: Molecular analysis of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and Rickettsia in Hyalomma marginatum ticks removed from patients (Spain) and birds (Spain and Morocco), 2009-2015.
abstract: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) was detected in Spain in 2010. The presence of CCHFV in Hyalomma marginatum ticks from migratory birds passing through Morocco during the spring migration strengthened the hypothesis of the arrival of infected ticks transported by birds to the Iberian Peninsula. Furthermore, Hyalomma species are vectors of bacterial infections such as spotted fever rickettsioses. CCHFV and Rickettsia were screened in Hyalomma ticks from Spain attached to patients (n=12) and birds (n=149). In addition, Rickettsia was investigated in 52 Hyalomma ticks from Morocco (previously reported as CCHFV-infected). No sample collected in Spain showed an infection with CCHFV. Two ticks removed from patients (16.7%), as well as 47 (31.5%) and 4 (7.7%) from birds, collected in Spain and Morocco respectively, were infected with Rickettsia aeschlimannii. Rickettsia sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae was also found in 2 ticks from birds collected in Spain (1.3%). The risk of CCHFV-infected ticks attached to migratory birds to reach the North of Spain is low. This study corroborates the presence of R. aeschlimannii in Spain and Morocco, and supports that H. marginatum can be a potential vector of R. sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae in the Iberian Peninsula.
authors.affiliation: Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño, Spain. Electronic address: ampalomar@riojasalud.es.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Palomar
authors.affiliation: Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño, Spain. Electronic address: aportillo@riojasalud.es.
authors.forename: Aránzazu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Portillo
authors.affiliation: Abies, Environment Resources Inc., Logroño, Spain. Electronic address: david@abies-sl.es.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mazuelas
authors.affiliation: Aranzadi Society of Sciences, San Sebastián, Spain. Electronic address: lidiaroncero@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roncero
authors.affiliation: Aranzadi Society of Sciences, San Sebastián, Spain. Electronic address: jarizaga@aranzadi-zientziak.org.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arizaga
authors.affiliation: Aranzadi Society of Sciences, San Sebastián, Spain. Electronic address: acrespo@aranzadi-zientziak.org.
authors.forename: Ariñe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.affiliation: Aranzadi Society of Sciences, San Sebastián, Spain. Electronic address: ogutierrezjimenez@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: Óscar
authors.initials: Ó
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: Dpto. Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain. Electronic address: jmarquez@ujaen.es.
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Márquez
authors.affiliation: Aranzadi Society of Sciences, San Sebastián, Spain. Electronic address: juanfran@euskalnet.net.
authors.forename: Juan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cuadrado
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. Electronic address: eiros@med.uva.es.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Eiros
authors.affiliation: Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño, Spain. Electronic address: jaoteo@riojasalud.es.
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Oteo
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology*; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D001717:Birds / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D003225:Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology*; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D064927:Tick Bites; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases
keywords: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus; Hyalomma marginatum; Morocco; Spain; Spotted fever group rickettsiae