Serosurvey and molecular detection of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in northern Turkey

In this study, the hard ticks, whole blood and serum samples collected from small ruminants (sheep and goat) in middle Black Sea region of Turkey where Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) human cases were observed in the past years were surveyed for the presence of RNA and specific IgG antibodies from CCFH virus (CCHFV). CCHFV RNA was found in 30 of 255 tick pools (11.76%) and nine of 105 (8.57%) leucocyte samples. No CCHFV genomic RNA was detected from animals in Yildizeli and Vezirkopru. However, CCHFV RNA was found from animals in Gerze and Resadiye. Seventy-eight of 105 goat and sheep blood serum samples tested were antibody-positive for CCHFV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (goat: 42/63; sheep: 36/42). Viral RNA was detected from tick samples in all of four provinces. Positivity rates for the provinces varied and were as follows: Gerze 13.04%, Resadiye 35.41%, Vezirkopru 1.61% and Yildizeli 6.06%. CCHFV genomic RNA was detected in four of seven tick species tested. These results suggest that these hard ticks may act as a reservoir for CCHFV in northern Turkey.