Current Status of Human Arboviral Diseases in Turkey

Abstract

Infections caused by viruses transmitted via blood-feeding arthropods (arthropod-borne or arboviruses) have gained considerable attention and importance during the last decades due to their resurgence, impact on public health, and changing epidemiologic features. The complex transmission cycles affected by environmental, technological, and ecological changes place arboviral infections in the realm of emerging and reemerging infections that intermittantly reappear in epidemic form or display tendency to extend beyond endemic zones. A number of previously undetected arboviral diseases have emerged in Turkey during the last decade, although, in some cases, serologic evidence has been provided earlier. Since Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever first emerged in Turkey in 2002, there are now more than 4400 laboratory-confirmed cases of the disease. In addition, convincing evidence has accumulated to suggest that pathogenic flaviviruses, including West Nile virus, are in circulation. Recent studies have also revealed human exposure, central nervous system infections, and outbreaks of febrile diseases by sandfly fever viruses. In this study, reports published in local and international journals on surveillance and epidemiology of medically important arboviruses and associated diseases from Turkey have been reviewed, and current data on tick, mosquito, and sandfly vectors are incorporated.

Serological Investigation of Phlebovirus Exposure in Blood Donors from the Mediterranean Province of Mersin, Turkey

“…Serosürveyans çalışmaları, olgu bazlı taramalar ve vektör taramalarına ek olarak, bölgede bulunan ve insan maruziyeti izlenen virusların saptanması ve epidemiyolojik özelliklerinin belirlenmesinde önem taşır 7,8 . Bu çalışmada, Mersin ili ve çevresinde yaşayan sağlıklı kan donörle- …”

“…Türkiye, fl eboviruslar açısından endemik bir bölgede yer almakta, çeşitli fl ebovirus izolatlarının vektörü olduğu bilinen kum sinekleri ülkemiz faunasında bulunmaktadır. Bununla birlikte ülkemizde fl ebovirus enfeksiyonlarına ait veriler görece olarak kısıtlıdır 7 . Özellikle son beş yılda olgu sunumları ve sürveyans verileri, TOSV ve SFTV de dahil olmak üzere, çeşitli fl eboviruslara, klinik hastalıkla sonuçlanan ya da sonuçlanmayan maruziyetin sıklıkla ortaya çıktığını göstermektedir 8 .…”

Molecular detection and seasonal distribution of lumpy skin disease virus in cattle breeds in Turkey

“…Haematophagous insects have been primarily associated with the transmission of LSDV (6). Ticks have recently been implicated in the transmission of LSDV like other arboviral diseases (1,10,20,21). The disease is of economic importance due to the severe damage to hides, reduced milk and meat production, temporary infertility and trade losses due to movement restrictions placed on cattle from affected areas (8,14).…”

Overview of West Nile Virus and Sandfly-borne Phlebovirus Infections in Anatolia

“…3 In this review, we aim to discuss current data on two of the major arboviral infections that have triggered outbreaks as well as case clusters since 2009 in Turkey, West Nile virus and Sandfly-borne Phleboviruses with a special emphasis on clinical presentation and laboratory evaluation.…”

“…3 The inital evidence for WNV circulation in Anatolia has been provided over three decades ago, in 1971, after an investigation of antibodies against various arthropod-borne viruses performed via hemagglutination inhibiton (HI) method followed by confirmation by neutralization. 8 This study revealed antibodies against WNV in 20% and 0.9% of sheep from Ankara (Central Anatolia) and Hatay (Southern Anatolia) provinces, respectively.…”