Investigation of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in ruminant species slaughtered in several endemic provinces in Turkey

A total of 1,337 serum and plasma specimens (939, 393 and 15 from cattle, sheep and goats, respectively) were collected monthly for one a year from ruminant species slaughtered in three Turkish cities endemic for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), Samsun, Sivas and Tokat. The serum samples were tested by commercial indirect ELISA to detect CCHFV antibodies, and positive or equivocal samples were later confirmed by a virus neutralization test (VNT). The seroprevalence in cattle, sheep, and goats was 36.21% (340/939), 6.27% (24/383), and 6.67% (1/15), respectively. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR was employed to detect viraemic animals at slaughter time. The percentage of CCHFV-viraemic animals was 0.67% (9/1337). The virus load varied between 4.1 x 10(1) and 2.4 x 10(3) RNA equivalent copies/mL in viraemic animals. The plasma samples that were positive for CCHFV genomic RNA were collected between April and May, when Hyalomma ticks are active. This study presents quantitative CCHFV load data in ruminant species at slaughter and interprets the likelihood of transmission for employees working in slaughterhouses in CCHFV-endemic regions.