Widespread Detection of Multiple Strains of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Ticks, Spain

Human cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) were first detected in Spain in 2016. National human and animal health authorities organized a large, multidisciplinary study focusing on ticks as sentinels to determine the nationwide distribution of ticks with CCHF virus. Ticks were collected f...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Sánchez-Seco, María Paz, Sierra, María José, Estrada-Peña, A., Valcárcel Sancho, Félix María, Molina, Ricardo, Ramírez de Arellano, Eva, Olmeda, Sonia A., García San Miguel, Lucía, Jiménez, Maribel, Romero, Luis José, Negredo, Anabel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/289862
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/289862
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
Hyalomma lusitanicum
Spain
Arboviruses
Genetic variability
Hemorrhagic fever infections
Surveillance
Tick-borne viruses
Vector-borne infections
Viruses
Zoonoses
Descripción
Sumario:Human cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) were first detected in Spain in 2016. National human and animal health authorities organized a large, multidisciplinary study focusing on ticks as sentinels to determine the nationwide distribution of ticks with CCHF virus. Ticks were collected from animals and vegetation, samples pooled (12,584 ticks; 4,556 pools), and molecular methods used to look for the virus. We detected the virus in 135 pools from most of the regions studied, indicating that it is widespread in Spain. We found sequences of CCHF virus genotypes I, III, and IV in the tick species collected, most commonly in Hyalomma lusitanicum, suggesting this tick has a prominent role in the virus's natural cycle. The red deer (Cervus elaphus) was the host that most frequently yielded positive ticks. Our study highlights the need for larger studies in Spain to ascertain the complete risk to public health.