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Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an increasing health concern in Turkey since 2002. There were also some recent human cases from the South Marmara region of Turkey; thus, a tick survey was performed, and possible vector tick species for the CCHF virus were determined in the region. A total of 740 adult ticks were collected from infested livestock from five locations: Çanakkale-Biga, Bursa-Orhaneli, Bursa-Keles, Balıkesir and Bilecik. Total of 11 tick species from the genera Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus, Dermacentor, Ixodes and Haemaphysalis were identified. Rhipicephalus ticks were dominant in the region; the most frequently observed tick species was R. turanicus, (53.1 %), and only 15.4 % of the identified ticks were H. marginatum. The occurrence of H. rufipes infestation in the region fort he first time. A total of 73 pools of adult ticks were tested with both an antigen-detecting ELISA and RT real-time PCR (RT rt PCR). The presence of the CCHF virus was demonstrated in 9 (12.3 %) of the tested tick pools. Although seven of the tick pools were positive for the CCHF virus with both of the methods, one pool was positive only with RT rt PCR and the other pool was only positive with the ELISA. Positive results were obtained from ticks collected from cattle, sheep and goats from two locations, Bursa-Orhaneli and Bilecik. The CCHF virus was detected in R. turanicus (n = 3), R. bursa (n = 2), H. marginatum (n = 2) and D. marginatus (n = 2) ticks. The results of this study confirm the presence of the CCHF virus and present preliminary data on the vector tick species in the southern Marmara region of Turkey.

The aim of this study is to reveal infection dynamics of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (PI-3), bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine adenovirus type 3 (BAV-3) and bovine coronavirus (BCoV), which are important viral pathogens of respiratory disease complex in ruminants. Through such an analysis, the regression period of maternally derived antibodies and optimum vaccination time in calves can be recommended. A total of 10 farms were grouped as large (4)-, medium (2)- and small (4)- sized enterprises according to their animal population. Newborn calves (n: 94) delivered during a calendar month on the farms were studied. Blood samples were collected from these calves during their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th months of age. Blood samples were also taken from their dams during the first sampling. Neutralizing antibody titers were detected using the serum neutralization test (SN50). New PI-3 and BVDV infections at the early stages of life were determined in the calves. Maternal antibodies began to decrease in the 2nd month for BRSV, BHV-1 and BAV-3 (97.8%, 25.5% and 91.4%) and in the 3rd month for PI-3, BVDV and BCoV (85.1%, 67% and 93.6%). It was concluded that maternal antibodies begin to decrease after the 1st month and that the possible first exposure of calves to respiratory viruses is after the 2nd month. Therefore, it is recommended that the first vaccination program including prime and booster doses can be applied between 2 and 4 months of age. Furthermore, re-vaccination of animals at 6 months after the booster dose is also suggested.

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Summary:Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has been an important health issue in Turkey since the last decade.Although there is a well-described endemic area, the infection tends to disseminate into non-endemic areas. In the South Marmara region, a non-endemic area, serological and virological investigations were performed to evaluate the infection status in livestock animals. Among 508 blood samples collected from 5 different locations, 33.1% were positive for CCHF-neutralizing antibodies. The highest seroprevalence rate was detected in goats (66.0%), followed by sheep (31.8%) and cattle (13.0%) (p< 0.0001). There were extensive differences in seroprevalence rates in neighboring locations, i.e., 7.8% in Keles and 47.6% in the Orhaneli district of Bursa province. Using antigen-capture ELISA (Ag-ELISA) and real-time reverse transcription PCR (rt RT-PCR), 6.6% of the tested animals were found to be viremic at the time of sampling. Two samples that were negative by Ag-ELISA produced a positive signal in rt RT-PCR, indicating the higher sensitivity of the latter method for detecting viremic animals. The results of this study demonstrate the wide distribution of CCHF virus in some locations in a non-endemic area, which may lead to the generation of focal infectious areas.Key words: Cattle, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, ELISA, real-time RT-PCR, sheep, Turkey. Marmara bölgesindeki evcil hayvanlarda Kırım-Kongo Kanamalı Ateşi enfeksiyonuÖzet: Kırım-Kongo kanamalı ateşi (KKKA) son on yıllık süreç içerisinde Türkiye'de oldukça önemli bir sağlık problemi olarak gündemde yer almaktadır. Endemik bölge olarak tanımlanan alanlar dışında kalan non-endemik bölgelerde de enfeksiyonun yayılma eğiliminde olduğu görülmektedir. Bu çalışmada non-endemik bölge olarak tanımlanan Güney Marmara bölgesindeki çiftlik hayvanlarında enfeksiyon durumunu değerlendirebilmek amacıyla serolojik ve virolojik araştırmalar yapılmıştır. Bu amaçla 5 farklı noktadan 508 adet kan örneği toplanmıştır. Bu örneklerin %33,1'i KKKA-nötralizan antikorları yönünden pozitif çıkmıştır. En yüksek seroprevalans değeri keçilerde (%66,0) saptanırken, bu değeri sırasıyla koyunlar (%31,8) ve sığırlar (%13,0) izlemiştir (p<0,0001). Seroprevalans değerlerinde komşu bölgeler arasında büyük farklar olduğu görülmüştür. Örneğin; Keles'te %7,8 olan seroprevalans değeri Orhaneli'de %47,6 olarak tespit edilmiştir. Antijen ELISA (Ag-ELISA) ve real-time reverse transkriptaz PCR (rt RT-PCR) kullanılarak test edilen hayvanların %6,6'sının örnekleme sırasında viremi fazında olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Ag-ELISA ile negatif, rt RT-PCR ile pozitif sonuç veren iki örnek, ikinci metodun viremi fazındaki hayvanları saptamada daha duyarlı olduğunu göstermiştir. Bu çalışmanın sonucu KKKA virusunun non-endemik bölgenin bazı noktalarında oldukça yaygın olduğunu ve bu noktaların enfeksiyon odağı olabileceğini göstermiştir.