The Prevalence and Genetic Variants of the CCHF Virus Circulating among Ticks in the Southern Regions of Kazakhstan

Abstract

Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) disease cases are registered annually in endemic regions of Kazakhstan. To study the prevalence of various Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) genotypes, a total of 694 ticks were collected from southern regions of Kazakhstan in 2021. Hyalomma marginatum (n = 323) (46.5%), Hyalomma anatolicum (n = 138) (19.9%), Hyalomma asiaticum (n = 126) (18.2%), Hyalomma scupense (n = 80) (11.5%) and Ixodes ricinus (n = 27) (3.9%) were collected using the standardized flagging technique from the environment. All the tick samples were analyzed for the presence of CCHFV RNA by RT-PCR. The CCHF-positive samples were found within three Hyalomma asiaticum and one Ixodes ricinus tick sample. For the first time in Kazakhstan, infection of the Ixodes ricinus tick with CCHFV was detected. The results of sequencing and analysis of the S-gene fragment showed that the Asia 1 and Asia 2 CCHF genotypes circulate in the southern regions of Kazakhstan. Viruses isolated in the Zhambyl and Turkestan regions are assigned to the Asia-2 genotype, whereas the virus isolated in the Kyzylorda region to the Asia-1 genotype.

Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus from Ticks Collected from Cattle in Kyrgyzstan, 2023

“…In the southern region of Kazakhstan, which shares a border with Kyrgyzstan, CCHFV was detected in ticks ( Hyalomma spp. and I. ricinus ) and livestock (cattle and sheep) [ 46 , 47 ]. CCHFV-infected ticks ( Hyalomma spp.…”

Medically Significant Vector-Borne Viral Diseases in Iran

“…Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus (CCHFV) is a zoonotic virus and one of the most important tick-borne virus (TBV) pathogens [23,123]. CCHFV was first discovered in 1944 in Crimea after soldiers became ill with a hemorrhagic disease [24,124].…”

Predicting climate-driven distribution shifts inHyalomma marginatum(Ixodidae)

“…Ticks are the vectors of several critical pathogens and pose a significant threat to animal and public health. The genus Hyalomma Koch, 1844 is of a particular concern due to its role as the vector of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), babesiosis and Rickettsia in the Mediterranean region, Africa and Asia (Duscher et al, 2018;Ros-García et al, 2011;Sultankulova et al, 2022;Vatansever et al, 2007). Specifically, Hyalomma marginatum Koch, 1844 presents a substantial health threat as the main vector of CCHF (Bonnet et al, 2022;Ergönül, 2006;Gale et al, 2010).…”