Investigation of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) seroprevalence in sheep

The Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) is a viral pathogen that is mainly transmitted by Hyalomma ticks and causes a fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans. CCHF, which is a tick-vertebrate-tick disease with a widespread distribution in Africa, Asia, and Europe, is also seen in Turkey. This deadly pathogen maintains its existence in nature with its tick-rabal-ken cycle, which contains many domestic and wild animals. There is no clinical symptom in domestic animals infected with the CCHFV, but the presence of antibodies in the serums of these animals is the most important proof of active exposure. The discovery of exposure to the CCHFV in farm animals will provide an advantage against the CCHF, which threatens human health. This study was carried out to obtain up-to-date information about the spread of CCHF in sheep in the Western Mediterranean region of Türkiye. For this purpose, the presence of CCHF-specific antibodies in the blood serum of 395 sheep was tested by the double antigen sandwich ELISA assay. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity values of the ELISA kit used were 96.8–99.8% and 99.8–100%, respectively. In a 95% confidence interval, the seroprevalence of the CCHF in sheep was determined to be 18.98% (75/395). The ELISA test results were found significantly affected by age (x2=9.545 P<0.002), acaricide using status (x2=21.088 P<0.000), keeping of poultry (x2=3.951 P <0.047), type of barn (x2=23.363 P<0.000), cleaning frequency of barn floor (x2=4.674 P<0.031). Rhipicephalus spp. ticks were frequently found on sheep, from which blood serum was taken. In this study, the first seroepidemiological data in the region of the CCHF seroprevalence detected in sheep in the Western Mediterranean Region were revealed. As a result, due to the fact that this agent has spread to new locations in Türkiye, it is recommended that the comprehensive monitoring strategies for the CCHFV be implemented.