Molecular detection of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) but not West Nile virus (WNV) in hard ticks from provinces in northern Turkey

Abstract

In this study, the hard ticks collected from a variety of mammalian species (cattle, sheep, goat, buffalo) and a turtle in either coastal or inland Black Sea region of Turkey were surveyed for the presence of RNA from Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and West Nile virus (WNV). No WNV genomic RNA was detected in any tick sample. However, CCHFV RNA was found in 29 of 421 tick pools (6.88%). Positivity rates for the provinces varied and were as follows: Samsun 4.38%; Ordu 4.34%; Giresun 6.32%; Sinop 14.63%; Amasya 5.55%; Tokat 3.38% and Sivas 4.83%. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus genomic RNA was detected in seven of eleven tick species tested. These results suggest that these hard ticks may act as a reservoir for CCHFV in northern Turkey, but probably have no role in WNV transmission.