| Autor: |
Omoga DCA; International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya.; Zoonotic Arbo and Respiratory Virus Research Program, Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X 323, Gezina 0031, South Africa., Tchouassi DP; International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya., Venter M; Zoonotic Arbo and Respiratory Virus Research Program, Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X 323, Gezina 0031, South Africa., Ogola EO; International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya., Osalla J; International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya., Kopp A; Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany., Slothouwer I; Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany., Torto B; International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya., Junglen S; Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany., Sang R; International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya. |
| Abstrakt: |
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is the causative agent of CCHF, a fatal viral haemorrhagic fever disease in humans. The maintenance of CCHFV in the ecosystem remains poorly understood. Certain tick species are considered as vectors and reservoirs of the virus. Diverse animals are suspected as amplifiers, with only scarce knowledge regarding rodents in virus epidemiology. In this study, serum samples from febrile patients, asymptomatic livestock (cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats), and peridomestic rodents from Baringo (Marigat) and Kajiado (Nguruman) counties within the Kenyan Rift Valley were screened for acute CCHFV infection by RT-PCR and for CCHFV exposure by ELISA. RT-PCR was performed on all livestock samples in pools (5-7/pool by species and site) and in humans and rodents individually. CCHFV seropositivity was significantly higher in livestock (11.9%, 113/951) compared to rodents (6.5%, 6/93) and humans (5.9%, 29/493) ( p = 0.001). Among the livestock, seropositivity was the highest in donkeys (31.4%, 16/51), followed by cattle (14.1%, 44/310), sheep (9.8%, 29/295) and goats (8.1%, 24/295). The presence of IgM antibodies against CCHFV was found in febrile patients suggesting acute or recent infection. CCHFV RNA was detected in four pooled sera samples from sheep (1.4%, 4/280) and four rodent tissues (0.83%, 4/480) showing up to 99% pairwise nucleotide identities among each other. Phylogenetic analyses of partial S segment sequences generated from these samples revealed a close relationship of 96-98% nucleotide identity to strains in the CCHFV Africa 3 lineage. The findings of this study suggest active unnoticed circulation of CCHFV in the study area and the involvement of livestock, rodents, and humans in the circulation of CCHFV in Kenya. The detection of CCHF viral RNA and antibodies against CCHFV in rodents suggests that they may participate in the viral transmission cycle. |
