Transmission of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in two Species of Hyalomma Ticks from Infected Adults to Cofeeding Immature Forms

Scott W. GordonDepartment of Epidemiology, Disease Assessment Division, U. S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland

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Kenneth J. LinthicumDepartment of Epidemiology, Disease Assessment Division, U. S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland

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J. R. MoultonDepartment of Epidemiology, Disease Assessment Division, U. S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland

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Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus was transmitted from infected adult Hyalomma ticks to uninfected larval and nymphal Hyalomma ticks while cofeeding on a guinea pig host that did not have a detectable viremia. When tested after feeding with infected adults, three (0.8%) of 370 H. truncatum larvae contained detectable CCHF virus (mean virus titer 101.6 plaque-forming units [PFU]/tick). The virus was transmitted transstadially from infected larvae and was detected in 15 (1.2%) of 1,253 nymphs and 12 (0.1%) of 2,049 adults. Virus was recovered from 18 (1.9%) of 931 H. impeltatum nymphs, which originated from larvae that cofed with infected adults. After H. impeltatum nymphs cofed with infected adults, CCHF virus was detected in 21 (4.3%) of 449 (mean virus titer 101.7 PFU/tick) fed nymphs, but none of 886 adults tested after molt. Results of this study indicate that a small proportion of either larvae or nymphs may acquire CCHF infection while cofeeding on a host without a detectable viremia.

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