Close contact precautions could prevent an outbreak of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: a case series report from southern part of Tehran

Between the end of June and the middle of July 2011, an outbreak of CCHF occurred in southern part of Tehran, Iran. This study reports clinical, laboratory findings and outcome of six cases, who were all consanguine. Index case who was livestock-worker died with hemorrhagic manifestations; thereafter his pregnant wife, three brothers, mother-in-law and his pregnant sister-in-law were admitted and except for the latter, ribavirin was administered. The brother with close contact with body fluids and blood of index case, died with hemorrhage. Low platelet, high aminotransferases and elevated PT, PTT were detected in this case. Skin manifestations were present in five cases. Only in one case RT-PCR and IgM serology were reported as positive for CCHF virus by reference laboratory. In endemic areas, high index of suspicion should be kept in mind in successfully finding and treating cases in early phase of the disease

Detection of Crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus antibodies in man and in animals

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever [CCHF] virus antibody survey was carried out in saudi Arabia on sera from man and several animal species using the reversed passive hemagglutination inhibittion [RPHI] test. Antibodies were found in 3/354 humans, 88/2162 sheep, 14/432 goats and 1/182 cattle. Camels and horses sera gave negative result. For the sake of comparison RPHI-positive sera and some selected negative sera were tested by indirect immunofluorescence [IF] and immunodiffusion [ID]. The results revealed that RPHI test is more sensitive than either of the two tests

Survey of ticks (Acarina: Ixodidae) for Crimean haemorrhagic fever virus activity in Jammu & Kashmir state, India.

A survey of ixodid ticks was carried on in 1977 to determine the crimean haemorrhagic fever (CHF) virus activity in Jammu & Kashmir state, India. In all, 412 immatures and 3258 adults belonging to 7 genera and 16 species of ticks were collected as ectoparasites of small and large mammals. These included one species each of the genera Boophilus, Dermacentor and Nosomma, 2 species of Rhipicephalus, 3 species of Ixodes and 4 species each of Haemaphysalis and Hyalomma. Haem. bispinosa was the predominant species followed by B. microplus, Haem. montgomeryi, R. haemaphysaloides and Hyal. m. isaaci. The four Hyalomma species viz., Hyal. a. anatolicum (incriminated as the vector of CHF virus), Hyal. detritum, Hyal. dromedarii and Hyal. m. isaaci were found parasitizing goat, sheep, camel and cattle and were collected in the districts of Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch and Udhampur. Four species viz., Haem. intermedia, Hyal. detritum, Hyal. dromedarii and Hyal. m. isaaci are new records for the state. A total of 138 pools comprising eight species under six genera of ticks were processed for isolating the virus. CHF virus was not isolated. The role of ixodid ticks, particularly those of the genus Hyalomma in the dissemination of CHF virus is highlighted.