Seroepidemiology of crimean congo hemorrhagic fever in slaughterhouse workers in north eastern Iran

Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever [CCHF] is an acute febrile haemorrhagic disease. This study was conducted to ascertain the infection status amongst slaughterhouse workers in Iran's north-eastern provinces [Razavi and northern and southern Khorasan], so that analysis of the results could help clarification of the epidemiology of this disease in the aforementioned provinces and eastern regions of Iran. In this cross-sectional study, conducted in 2004 and 2005, 108 slaughterhouse workers from 24 cities of the three previously mentioned provinces were randomly entered into the study. An IgG specific ELISA test was carried out on the participants' serum samples. Sixteen out of 108 [14.8%] participants under study were shown to have IgG against CCHF. The highest rate of infection was seen in Razavi Khorasan and southern Khorasan at 17.5% and 16.7%, respectively. The study showed a relatively high frequency of this disease amongst slaughterhouse workers in these provinces. Taking into account the small number of reported cases from these provinces, it would seem that more focus is required on primary diagnosis and on referral of suspected patients

Tick infestation rate of sheep and their distribution in abdanan county, ham province, Iran, 2007-2008

Ticks are hematophagous arthropod belonging to the Class of Arachnids. Ticks are also one of the major vectors of pathogens to animal and human. This study was conducted to determine tick infestation rate of sheep in Abdanan during 2007-2008. Sampling was performed seasonally in 19 villages during spring 2007 until winter 2008. A total of 1095 sheep were selected and tested for tick infestation. After collection, all ticks were transported to laboratory of Medical Entomology and were identified with appropriate identification keys. Totally, 864 hard ticks were collected. The ticks were classified into two genera and 5 species including: Hyalomma marginalum [44.67%], Hy. anatolicum [43.17%], Hy.asiaticwn [6.37%], Hy. dromedarii [5.55%], Hea-maphysalis sulcata [0.24%]. The highest seasonal activity was observed in spring [36.46%] and the lowest seasonal was in winter [11.57%]. The rate of tick frequency in mountainous region was 48.15% and it was 51.85% in plateau regions. In this study, tick infestation of sheep was 11.41%. Hy.marginatum has the more frequent density in the study area

Hard ticks on domestic ruminants and their seasonal population dynamics in Yazd Province, Iran

Ticks are the main vectors for transmission of different pathogens to human and animals. This survey was carried out distribution of ticks, which infested the domestic ruminants in Yazd Province, central Iran during year 2008-2009. A total number of 30 villages form both mountainous and [20%] plateau[80%] regions of the province were selected randomly. Ticks were colleted from the body of infested animals and transported to the Laboratory of Medical Entomology, School of Public Health, Tehran university of Medical Sciences and then were identified using valid identification key. A total of 583 hard ticks were collected. The ticks were classified into three genera and 7 species including: Hyalomma dromedarii [55.92%], Hyalomma marginatum [13.20%], Hy. anatolicum [9.78%], Hy. detritum [4.98%], Hyalomma asiaticum [3.94%] Rhipicephalus sanguineus [11.84%] and Dermacentor marginatus [0.34%]. The highest seasonal activities occurred in summer. The prevalence of the Ixodidae ticks was more evident in plateaus area in Yazd Province. Among the hosts including: cow, goat, sheep and camel, the ticks that collected from camel was more prevalent. The ratio of male was more than female ticks. Hyalomma dromedarii was the predominant tick species and accounted for 55.92% of the ticks. Some of the collected ticks may play an important role for transmission of vector borne disease to human; therefore, the results of this study will provide a clue for vectors of tick-borne diseases in the region for local authorities for implementation of disease control

[Seroepidemiologic survey of crimean-congohemorrhagic fever among slaughters and butchers in Isfahan]

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever [CCHF] is a viral zoonotic infection that, formerly several cases has been reported in Iran. During recent years some outbreaks has been reported in different parts of country including Isfahan. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of CCHF according to finding of IgG among butchers and slaughters of Isfahan province. In this cross-sectional study, conducted as a joint research with Arbovirus Laboratory in Pasteur Institute, IgG antibody against CCHF was assessed among 80 individuals. The study was conducted as a joint research with Arbovirus laboratory in Pasteur Institute of Iran on 2004. Overall, 4 [5%] persons were seropositive and 2 cases had borderline results. There was no statistically significant difference between butchers and slaughters. Positive cases were detected mainly in the Isfahan slaughterhouse. The findings of the current study show that although CCHF is endemic among domestic animals in Isfahan province, but seropositivity in high risk groups, e.g. butchers and slaughters is not so high. More serious measures should be considered for prevention of CCHF in high risk groups

Seroprevalence, incidence and risk factors of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in sistan-va-Baluchestan province, Iran

Since 1999, many cases of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever have been reported from different parts of Iran. This study intended to define CCHF seroprevalence, incidence rates, and the most important risks in Sistan- Baluchestan province, Iran. Using cluster sampling with probability proportional to size, 310 subjects were selected from various districts of Zahedan and Zabol in the northern part of the province. Blood samples were drawn from consenting subjects, once at the beginning of the study and then 6 months later. The study began on 22 April 2003 and continued till 17 February 2004. A total of 18 out of 285 subjects who consented to give blood samples were actually positive by IgM and IgG capture ELISA tests. The calculated seroprevalence was 6.32% [95% CI: 3.24% to 9.40%]. The calculated incidence was 0.48% [95% CI: 0.00% to 1.44%]. Fourteen out of the 18 subjects with definitely positive IgG or IgM were female. In multivariate analysis, age, education, and history of slaughtering livestock were significantly related to the risk of infection. Only one of the seropositive subjects had a history of tick bite. This study shows the importance of subclinical infections in the epidemiology of this disease in Iran. It also seems that the risk of infection for housewives is high. Regardless of the high female to male ratio of seropositive subjects, it appears that the epidemiologic characteristics of the infection in this region are not so different compared to other parts of the world