Zati Vatansever

Molecular evidence for Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes ricinus from Turkey

This study investigated the presence of the pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum in ixodid ticks removed from humans living in three provinces (Giresun, Trabzon, Rize) in the east of the Black Sea Region of Turkey. A total of 1097 ixodid ticks were examined for the presence of A. phagocytophilum DNA. From the 95 pooled tick samples tested, species-specific fragments of A. phagocytophilum (11/95 samples, 11.6%) were amplified by nested PCR. Adult Ixodes ricinus (9/53 samples, 17.0%) and Ixodes spp. nymphs (2/9 samples, 22.2%) were infected with A. phagocytophilum. None of the remaining tick species gave a positive result for the presence of the pathogen. All nested PCR-positive samples were directly sequenced. The partial sequences (457bp) of the amplicons obtained from the infected tick pools were 100% identical to one another and to previously isolated sequences from human patients. To obtain a longer 16S rRNA gene sequence, one representative sample was reamplified with the universal primer set. The longer representative sequence (1306bp) also shared 99.92% similarity (a single adenine deletion) with the recently reported complete sequence of A. phagocytophilum.

Circulation of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Revealed by Screening of Cattle Sera Using a Novel Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

Background There are only few assays available for the detection of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV)-specific antibodies in animals, and data about diagnostic sensitivity and specificity are incompletely documented for most of these tests. This is unfortunate since CCHFV antibodies in animals can be used as indicator for virus circulation in a geographic area and therewith potential risk of human exposure. This paper therefore reports on a novel ELISA for the detection of CCHFV-specific antibodies in cattle and on its application for testing ruminant sera from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Principal Findings A highly sensitive and specific ELISA was developed to detect CCHFV-specific IgG antibodies in cattle. The assay was validated by using 503 negative serum samples from a country where CCHFV has never been detected until now, and by using 54 positive serum samples. The positive sera were verified by using two commercially available assays (for testing human serum) which we have adapted for use in animals. The sensitivity of the novel ELISA was 98% and its specificity 99%. The presence of Hyalomma ticks was demonstrated in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and depending on the region antibody prevalence rates up to 80% were detected in the cattle population. Conclusion This article describes a fully validated, highly sensitive and specific ELISA for the detection of CCHFV-specific IgG antibodies in cattle. Using this assay, CCHFV-specific antibodies were detected for the first time in cattle in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, giving evidence for an active circulation of this virus in the country. Supporting this conclusion, the occurrence of the main vector of CCHFV was demonstrated in the present work for the first time in Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The Huge Risks Due to Hyalomma Ticks

Traditional tick taxonomy based on morphological characters is recently challenged by data generated from DNA analysis and several revisions in tick families have been proposed accordingly. Thus, names of some tick genera and their taxonomic positions have changed, species moved from one rank to another, while other names were invalidated. In this chapter, we update the genus Hyalomma species names as compiled from recent re-descriptions of species and tick reviews up to year 2011. Hyalomma species are known vectors of large numbers of parasites and pathogens transmitted to humans and livestock in different parts of the world making these ticks the economically most important ixodids.

Molecular evidence for trans-stadial and transovarial transmission of Babesia occultans in Hyalomma marginatum and Rhipicephalus turanicus in Turkey.

A total of 1064 adult ticks identified as Hyalomma marginatum (n=965), Rhipicephalus turanicus (n=86), Haemaphysalis inermis (n=9) and Rhipicephalus bursa (n=4) along with 20 egg masses derived from H. marginatum (n=18) and R. bursa were screened for Babesia occultans. The ticks were combined into 328 pools and infection rates were calculated as the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Of these pools, 23 (7%) were positive for B. occultans, and the overall MLE was calculated as 2.27% (CI 1.48-3.35). Infection prevalence in tick species was 7.09% for H. marginatum (22/310, MLE 2.41, CI 1.55-3.59) and 7.14% for R. turanicus (1/14, MLE 1.11, CI 0.07-5.18). None of H. inermis and R. bursa was infected with the parasite. Host-seeking H. marginatum females displayed an infection prevalence of 1.68% (2/119, MLE 0.63, CI 0.11-2.06), while no parasite DNA was detected in the males. The prevalence of infection in feeding H. marginatum varied, ranging from 27.27% (9/33, MLE 4.61, CI 2.26-8.52) in males to 25.92% (7/27, MLE 8.22, CI 3.72-15.75) in females. Of the egg masses examined, 4 (22.22%) of H. marginatum and 1 (50%) of R. turanicus were infected with B. occultans. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that B. occultans has been detected in R. turanicus.

The First Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Case in the Winter Season from Turkey

Turkey is one of the countries in which Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is frequently seen and most of the cases are reported between April and August. We describe the first case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in the winter season, when Hyalomma tick activity is absent, from Turkey.

Otoacariasis: demographic and clinical outcomes of patients with ticks in the ear canal

INTRODUCTIONnOtoacariasis, the attachment of ticks and mites within the ear canal is a common phenomenon especially in rural areas.nnnOBJECTIVEnTo determine the clinical and demographic features of cases with detected ticks in the ear canal, which is a common health problem, and identify tick species.nnnMETHODSnData of patients who had otoacariasis were collected. We also investigated all ticks at the Veterinary Department of Kafkas University.nnnRESULTSnWe present the data of patients with otoacariasis. All ticks were identified as otobius. Otobius ticks were found not related with any complications.nnnCONCLUSIONnIt is very important to detect ticks in the ear canal as they act as vector of some diseases. Identifying species of ticks may help clinicians to prevent further complications associated with vector-borne diseases.

Identifying main drivers and testing control strategies for CCHFV spread

Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is an emerging zoonotic disease. The causative agent is a virus (CCHFV), mainly transmitted by ticks of the species Hyalomma marginatum in Eastern Europe and Turkey. In order to test potential scenarios for the control of pathogen spread, the basic reproduction number (R0) for CCHF was calculated. This calculation was based on a population dynamics model and parameter values from the literature for pathogen transmission. The tick population dynamics model takes into account the major processes involved and gives estimates for tick survival from one stage to the other and number of feeding ticks. It also considers the influence of abiotic (meteorological variables) and biotic factors (host densities) on model outputs, which were compared with data collected in Central Anatolia (Turkey). R0 computation was thereafter used to test control strategies and especially the effect of acaricide treatment. Simulation results indicate that such treatments could have valuable effects provided that the acaricide is applied regularly throughout the spring and summer, and over several years. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis to abiotic and biotic factors showed that, even though temperature has a strong impact on model outputs, host (mainly hare) densities also play a role. The kind of model we have developed provides insight into the ability of different strategies to prevent and control disease spread and has proved its relevance when associated with field trials.

External morphological anomalies in ixodid ticks from Thrace, Turkey.

Of 18,667 ticks examined, 33 specimens from species identified as Haemaphysalis parva, Hyalomma marginatum, Hy. scupense, Rhipicephalus bursa and Rh. turanicus were found to have external morphological anomalies. Anomalous Ha. parva, Hy. scupence and Rh. turanicus were reported in this study for the first time. General anomalies manifested as asymmetry and deformations of the idiosoma, whereas local anomalies occurred in legs, exoskeleton, spiracular, adanal, subanal and accessory plates, mouthparts and capitulum. With this study describing a gynandromorphic Hy. marginatum, the number of gynandromorphic tick cases has been raised to two in Turkey.

A novel double-antigen sandwich ELISA for the species-independent detection of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus-specific antibodies

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne disease in humans caused by the CCHF virus (CCHFV). The detection of anti-CCHFV antibodies in animals is used to reveal infection risk areas. Therefore a simple, quick and reliable multispecies assay for the detection of CCHFV-specific antibodies is needed. This work presents the development and validation of a novel CCHF double-antigen ELISA for the detection of anti-CCHFV nucleoprotein antibodies. The test requires 30xa0μl of serum, and results are obtained within 90xa0min. As the ELISA is based on recombinant N-protein of the IbAr10200 virus, it can be run under standard biosafety conditions. For assay validation, sera from 95 cattle and 176 small ruminants from CCHF-endemic regions (origin: Albania, Cameroon, Kosovo, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mauritania, Pakistan, Turkey) served as a positive reference serum panel. The CCHF antibody status of the positive reference samples had been previously confirmed by two serological assays (species-adapted VectorBest ELISA and Euroimmun IFA). CCHFV strains belonging to three different clades are known to circulate in the countries where the positive samples originated. Sera from 402 cattle and 804 small ruminants from Germany and France served as the negative serum panel, as both countries are considered outside of the CCHFV endemic zone. Sera from monkeys, camels, rats, ferrets, raccoon dogs, raccoons, foxes, hares, pigs and humans were also tested, to determine the suitability of this novel ELISA for these species. All negative reference sera were confirmed by the CCHF double-antigen ELISA, indicating a specificity of 100%. 268 of 271 positive reference sera tested positive for CCHFV-specific antibodies, 8sensitivity of 99%9. Further analysis are needed to ensure a recognition of the IbAr10200 nucleoprotein by antibodies directed against all known CCHFV clades. This is planned to be realized with sera from other regions covering the three missing clades.

Dynamic Modeling of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) Spread to Test Control Strategies

Abstract Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever is a zoonotic disease which has emerged or re-emerged recently in Eastern Europe andTurkey.The causative agent is a virus, mainly transmitted by ticks of the species Hyalomma marginatum (Koch, 1844, Ixodida, Amblyommidae).To test potential scenarios for the control of pathogen spread, a dynamic mechanistic model has been developed that takes into account the major processes involved in tick population dynamics and pathogen spread.The tick population dynamics model represents both abiotic (meteorological variables) and biotic (hare and cattle densities) factors in the determination of processes (development, host finding, and mortality).The infection model consists of an SIRS model for the host part whereas a lifelong infectiousness was considered for ticks. The model was first applied to a zone in Central Anatolia (Turkey). Simulated dynamics represent the average reported level of infection in vectors and hosts. A sensitivity analysis to parameter value has been carried out and highlighted the role of transstadial transmission as well as acquisition of the pathogen by immature stages. Applying the model to different sites ofTurkey shows different patterns in the dynamics of acarological risk (number of infectious questing adults). This model was thereafter used to test control strategies. Simulation results indicate that acaricide treatments and decrease in hare density could have valuable effects when combined, either on the acarological risk or on the prevalence in cattle.The kind of model we have developed provides insight into the ability of different strategies to prevent and control disease spread.