scholarly journals Investigation of tick-borne viruses as pathogens of humans in South Africa and evidence of Dugbe virus infection in a patient with prolonged thrombocytopenia

1996 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Burt ◽  
D. C. Spencer ◽  
P. A. Leman ◽  
B. Patterson ◽  
R. Swanepoel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Distribution Range ◽  
Antibody Activity ◽  
Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Viral Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Cchf Virus ◽  
Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

SUMMARYIn the course of investigating suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever in South Africa patients were encountered who had been bitten by ticks, but who lacked evidence of infection with Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus or non-viral tick-borne agents. Cattle sera were tested by enzyme-linked immunoassay to determine whether tick-borne viruses other than CCHF occur in the country. The prevalence of antibody in cattle sera was 905/2116 (42·8%) for CCHF virus, 70/1358 (5·2%) for Dugbe, 21/1358 (1·5%) for louping ill, 6/450 (1·3%) for West Nile, 7/1358 (0·5%) for Nairobi sheep disease, 3/625 (0·5%) for Kadam and 2/450 (0·4%) for Chenuda. No reactions were recorded with Hazara, Bahig, Bhanja, Thogoto and Dhori viruses. The CCHF findings confirmed previous observations that the virus is widely prevalent within the distribution range of ticks of the genusHyalomma, while antibody activity to Dugbe antigen was detected only within the distribution range of the tickAmblyomma hebraeum. Cross-reactivity for the nairoviruses, Hazara, Nairobi sheep disease and Dugbe, was detected in serum samples from 3/72 human patients with confirmed CCHF infection, and serum from 1/162 other patients reacted monospecifically with Dugbe antigen. The latter patient suffered from febrile illness with prolonged thrombocytopenia.

scholarly journals Serodiagnosis of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever

1994 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 551-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Burt ◽  
P. A. Leman ◽  
J. C. Abbott ◽  
R. Swanepoel
Keyword(s):  
Early Detection ◽  
Sandwich Elisa ◽  
Acute Stage ◽  
Similar Proportion ◽  
Antibody Activity ◽  
Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
If Technique ◽  
Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

SUMMARYSeveral methods for demonstrating antibody to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus were compared on serum samples taken from 101 patients during the acute stage of illness and at intervals for up to 59 months thereafter, with emphasis on early detection of the immune response. The deaths of 23 patients on days 5–14 of illness were ascribed to the effects of the disease; two patients died later from other causes. Very few of the patients who died from the acute illness mounted an antibody response detectable by the methods tested. Four patients who died and 18 who recovered were treated with immune plasma collected from recovered patients. Treated patients acquired IgG antibody from the plasma, but it was possible to discern the onset of an endogenous IgM response in those individuals who survived the disease by all of the methods tested. Indirect immunofluorescence (IF) tests detected IgM and/or IgG antibodies at the earliest on day 4 of illness in about 10% of patients who survived the disease, and by day 9 all survivors had antibodies demonstrable by IF. A biotin-streptavidin IF technique offered no advantage over the standard IF test for the early detection of IgG antibody, but demonstrated higher antibody titles and detected IgM antibody earlier in about a quarter of the patients tested. An IgM-capture enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and an IgG sandwich ELISA demonstrated higher antibody titres than did IF tests, and detected antibody responses at an earlier stage of infection than did IF tests in about one-fifth of patients, but the reverse was true in a similar proportion of instances. A competition ELISA, which detected total antibody activity, produced lower titres than did the IgM and IgG ELISAs, but yielded results which were in close agreement with the findings in IF tests. It was concluded that the IF tests were most convenient for use in making a rapid serodiagnosis of the disease.

scholarly journals Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the detection of antibody to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in the sera of livestock and wild vertebrates

1993 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 547-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Burt ◽  
R. Swanepoel ◽  
L. E. O. Braack
Keyword(s):  
Specific Binding ◽  
Sandwich Elisa ◽  
Infected Sheep ◽  
Antibody Activity ◽  
Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
Igm Antibody ◽  
Cchf Virus ◽  
Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Peroxidase Conjugate

SummaryIgM antibody response to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus was monitored in experimentally infected sheep and cattle by an IgM capture enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Specific binding of antigen was detected by a rabbit anti-CCHF horseradish peroxidase conjugate or a sandwich technique with hyperimmune mouse anti-CCHF ascitic fluid and commercially available anti-mouse immunoglobulin peroxidase conjugate. The persistence of IgM antibody activity was found to be of shorter duration than in humans, and this may be a function of the relative lack of susceptibility of these animals to infection with CCHF virus. IgG antibody responses in the sheep could be monitoried by sandwich ELISA using commercially available anti-sheep immunoglobulin peroxidase conjugates. Total antibody activity in the sera of experimentally infected sheep, cattle and small mammals could be monitored in a competitive ELISA (CELISA) using rabbit anti-CCHF peroxidase conjugate. The CELISA was applied to the sera of 960 wild vertebrates from a nature reserve in South Africa, and the prevalence of antibody was found to be greatest in large mammals such as rhinoceros, giraffe and buffalo, which are known to be the preferred hosts of the adult tick (Hyalomma) vectors of the virus.

scholarly journals Risk factors associated with exposure to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in animal workers and cattle, and molecular detection in ticks, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. e0009384
Author(s):  
Veerle Msimang ◽  
Jacqueline Weyer ◽  
Chantel le Roux ◽  
Alan Kemp ◽  
Felicity J. Burt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
First Case ◽  
Cchf Virus ◽  
Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Central South

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe tick-borne viral zoonosis endemic to parts of Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. Human cases are reported annually in South Africa, with a 25% case fatality rate since the first case was recognized in 1981. We investigated CCHF virus (CCHFV) seroprevalence and risk factors associated with infection in cattle and humans, and the presence of CCHFV in Hyalomma spp. ticks in central South Africa in 2017–18. CCHFV IgG seroprevalence was 74.2% (95%CI: 64.2–82.1%) in 700 cattle and 3.9% (95%CI: 2.6–5.8%) in 541 farm and wildlife workers. No veterinary personnel (117) or abattoir workers (382) were seropositive. The prevalence of CCHFV RNA was significantly higher in Hyalomma truncatum (1.6%) than in H. rufipes (0.2%) (P = 0.002). Seroprevalence in cattle increased with age and was greater in animals on which ticks were found. Seroprevalence in cattle also showed significant geographic variation. Seroprevalence in humans increased with age and was greater in workers who handled livestock for injection and collection of samples. Our findings support previous evidence of widespread high CCHFV seroprevalence in cattle and show significant occupational exposure amongst farm and wildlife workers. Our seroprevalence estimate suggests that CCHFV infections are five times more frequent than the 215 confirmed CCHF cases diagnosed in South Africa in the last four decades (1981–2019). With many cases undiagnosed, the potential seriousness of CCHF in people, and the lack of an effective vaccine or treatment, there is a need to improve public health awareness, prevention and disease control.

scholarly journals Molecular epidemiology of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in India

2016 ◽  
Vol 144 (16) ◽  
pp. 3422-3425 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. SINGH ◽  
M. CHHABRA ◽  
P. SHARMA ◽  
R. JAISWAL ◽  
G. SINGH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
N Gene ◽  
Western India ◽  
Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Phylogenetic Relatedness ◽  
Cchf Virus ◽  
Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
First Time

SUMMARYCrimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an emerging zoonotic disease in India which is prevalent in neighbouring countries. CCHF virus (CCHFV) is a widespread tick-borne virus which is endemic in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. In the present study, samples of clinically suspected human cases from different areas of northern-western India were tested for the presence of CCHFV by RT–PCR through amplification of nucleocapsid (N) gene of CCHFV. Positive samples were sequenced to reveal the prevailing CCHFV genotype(s) and phylogenetic relatedness. A phylogenetic tree revealed the emergence of diverse strains in the study region showing maximum identity with the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran strains, which was different from earlier reported Indian strains. Our findings reveal for the first time the emergence of the Asia 1 group in India; while earlier reported CCHFV strains belong to the Asia 2 group.

scholarly journals Viraemic transmission of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus to ticks

1991 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 373-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Shepherd ◽  
R. Swanepoel ◽  
S. P. Shepherd ◽  
P. A. Leman ◽  
O. Mathee
Keyword(s):  
Ixodid Tick ◽  
Transovarial Transmission ◽  
Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Hyalomma Truncatum ◽  
Virus Content ◽  
Cchf Virus ◽  
Rhipicephalus Evertsi Evertsi ◽  
Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Tick Vectors

SUMMARYIn order to determine the way in which vertebrates infected with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus and potential ixodid tick vectors interact in nature, immature and adult ticks of several species were fed on viraemic mammals and then assayed for virus content at varying times after feeding. CCHF virus was not isolated from ticks of six species tested after feeding as adults and immature forms on sheep with viraemia of 102·5−3·2LD 50/ml, nor from larval ticks fed on guinea-pigs and white-tailed rats with viraemia of 101·9−2·7LD 50/ml. In contrast, virus was isolated from 10 of 152 pools of engorged adult ticks of 5 species that fed on cattle with viraemia of 101·5−2·7LD 50/ml and from 3 of 137 female ticks after oviposition. Infection was transmitted to larval and nymphalHyalomma truncatumandH. marginatum rufipes, but not toRhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, from a scrub hare with viraemia of 104·250/ml but only nymphalH. truncatumandH. m. rufipesbecame infected from scrub hares with viraemia of 102·6−2·7LD 50/ml. Infection was transmitted trans-stadially inH. m. rufipesandH. truncatuminfected as nymphae, and adultH. m. rufipestransmitted infection to a sheep. No evidence of transovarial transmission was found in larval progeny of ticks exposed to CCHF virus as adults on sheep and cattle or as immatures on scrub hares.

scholarly journals Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever presenting with undiagnosed chronic myeloid leukaemia†

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 142-144
Author(s):  
Marius J. Coetzee ◽  
Lucille H. Blumberg ◽  
Janusz T. Paweska ◽  
Pat Leman ◽  
Robert Swanepoel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Myeloid Leukaemia ◽  
White Cell Count ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Complex Case ◽  
Acute Febrile Illness ◽  
Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
High Index Of Suspicion

A patient with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) presented with a high white cell count and splenomegaly. Underlying chronic myeloid leukaemia was diagnosed. The management of this complex case was difficult, and the patient demised. This case illustrates that in patients with an acute febrile illness with haemorrhage, a thorough history and examination, as well as a high index of suspicion for concurrent conditions, is important.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever outbreak in Middle Anatolia: a multicentre study of clinical features and outcome measures

2005 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Bakir ◽  
Mehmet Ugurlu ◽  
Basak Dokuzoguz ◽  
Hurrem Bodur ◽  
Mehmet A Tasyaran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chart Review ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Fatal Outcome ◽  
Hospital Costs ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Related Data ◽  
Cchf Virus ◽  
Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Tertiary Care Hospitals

A Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) outbreak emerged from 2001 to 2003 in the Middle Anatolia region of Turkey. This study describes the clinical characteristics and outcome features of CCHF patients admitted to four tertiary care hospitals in Turkey. Definitive diagnosis was based on the detection of CCHF virus-specific IgM by ELISA or of genomic segments of the CCHF virus by RT-PCR. Related data were collected by a retrospective chart review. Hospital costs were extracted from the final discharge bills. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the independent predictors of mortality. CCHF virus-specific antibodies or genomic segments were detected in the sera of 99 cases. Seven cases that were treated with ribavirin were excluded from the study. Cases were mostly farmers (83 cases, 90 %), and 60 % had a tick-bite history before the onset of fever. Impaired consciousness and splenomegaly were independent predictors of a fatal outcome.

Detection of IgG antibody against Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus using ELISA with recombinant nucleoprotein antigens from genetically diverse strains

2013 ◽  
Vol 142 (10) ◽  
pp. 2147-2154 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. RANGUNWALA ◽  
R. R. SAMUDZI ◽  
F. J. BURT
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
South African ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Fever Virus ◽  
Amino Acid Difference ◽  
Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
Recombinant Antigens ◽  
Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

SUMMARYCrimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) has the propensity to cause nosocomial infections with a high fatality rate. Handling the virus requires biosafety level-4 facilities, limiting accessibility for many laboratories. Advances in molecular techniques have allowed preparation of safe recombinant antigens that have application in diagnosis and serosurveillance of CCHFV. The aim of this study was to determine genetic diversity in CCHFV based on all available complete sequence data for the S gene encoding CCHFV nucleoprotein (NP) and antibody cross-reactivity between the NP of a South African isolate and the NP of a Greek isolate (AP92), the most genetically diverse CCHFV strain. The nucleotide sequence diversity and amino-acid diversity between genotypes, within genotypes and the pairwise distances were calculated for a dataset of 45 CCHFV isolates retrieved from GenBank. The most diverse virus, AP92, isolated from a tick in Greece, displayed the highest amino-acid difference (8·7%) with SPU415/85, isolated from a human infection in South Africa. Recombinant NP encoded for by codon-optimized S genes of SPU415/85 and AP92 were expressed in a bacterial host system and used to develop an in-house ELISA to detect IgG antibody against CCHFV in South African patients who survived infection. A total of 14/14 sera reacted with the South African recombinant NP and 13/14 reacted with the Greek recombinant NP. The serological cross-reactivity of the two NP antigens suggests that recombinant antigens prepared from geographically distinct CCHFV will have diagnostic and epidemiological applications worldwide.

scholarly journals Haemophagocytosis in a patient with Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever

2007 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 1126-1128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atahan Cagatay ◽  
Mahir Kapmaz ◽  
Asli Karadeniz ◽  
Seniha Basaran ◽  
Mustafa Yenerel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Patient History ◽  
Endemic Region ◽  
Cchf Virus ◽  
History Of ◽  
Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe disease with a case fatality of 2.8 to 80 %. A patient dwelling in an endemic region for CCHF was admitted with fever preceding bleeding diathesis and pancytopenia. Despite no history of tick exposure, CCHF was highly suspected. With an oral ribavirin therapy, clinical and laboratory improvements were obtained. The diagnosis was confirmed by detection of IgM antibody to CCHF virus and positive RT-PCR. Although the main pathogenesis of CCHF infection is not elucidated yet, haemophagocytosis, a symptom rarely reported in viral haemorrhagic fevers, was observed in this case. Haemophagocytosis is suggested to have a role in the development of pancytopenia in CCHF, the mechanism of which still needs to be investigated, probably with cytokine studies. Together with clinical symptoms and patient history, haemophagocytosis may be an indicator for CCHF.

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