Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever among the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedaries) in Central Sudan

Abstract

BackgroundCrimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral zoonotic disease caused by Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), a member of the genus Nairovirus in the family Bunyaviridae. CCHF is typically asymptomatic in animals but can be highly fatal in humans approaching case fatality rate of approximately 30%. In the present investigation, a cross sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of CCHF and to identify the potential risk factors associated with CCHFV seropositivity among the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedaries) in Central Sudan.MethodsA total of 361 camels selected randomly from six localities were employed in the study. Sera sampled were tested for the presence of CCHFV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsCCHFV seropositivity was recorded in 77 out of 361 animals accounting for a prevalence rate of 21.3%. Age (OR = 3.6, CI = 1.72–7.79, p-value = 0.026); locality (OR = 5.85, CI = 1.81–18.83, p- value = 0.003), tick number (OR = 4.6, CI = 1.37–9.81, P-value 0.04); tick control (OR = 2.2, CI, 1.11–4.35, P-value = 0.023) and breed (OR = 6.60, CI = 2.38–18.36, P-value = 0.001) were recorded as potential risk factors for contracting CCHF.ConclusionsThe prevalence of CCHF is significantly high among camels in Khartoum State, Sudan. Age, breed, locality and tick control are considered as potential risk factors for contracting CCHF. This study would be expected to reduce the impact on the livelihood of pastoral communities and ultimately avoid disease spread in human.

Risks and Challenges of Arboviral Diseases in Sudan: The Urgent Need for Actions

“…The circulation of CCHFV in southwestern and central Sudan has been reported in cattle populations in 2013 and 2015, with a concomitant outbreak of CCHF in the human population in 2013 and 2014 [89][90][91]. CCHFV was detected in various Sudanese domestic animals from different areas of the country, showing that there is active transmission of the CCHFV in most of Sudan, with seroprevalence between 7% and 21% [89,91,92]. Tick infestation, age, area, and animal breeding were risk factors for CCHFV infection among animals.…”

“…Tick infestation, age, area, and animal breeding were risk factors for CCHFV infection among animals. Further, animals following an open grazing system were 27 times more likely to become infected [89,91,92]. CCHFV has been isolated from pools of tick including several species removed from Sudanese sheep exported to Saudi Arabia, but local vectors of CCHFV have not been investigated comprehensively [93].…”

Identification of a novel lineage of Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in dromedary camels, United Arab Emirates

“…Reported CCHFV seropositivity rates among camels in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have ranged from 5.3-26 %, with an average of 13.4 % [3,[5][6][7]. Recently, CCHFV RNA prevalence was reported in Hyalomma dromedarii ticks from camels in the UAE and partial genome sequences were recovered [8].…”

Use of camel single-domain antibodies for the diagnosis and treatment of zoonotic diseases

“…Camelids could also be a source of bNAbs. Indeed antibodies against MERS-Coronaviruses (MERS-CoV) [87][88][89], Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) [90,91], Rift Valley fever (RFV) [90], Toxoplasma gondii, and Rickettsia sp. [92] have been found in the sera of infected camels, whereas antibodies against rabies virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, and FMD virus have been detected in llamas [93] and could lead to the possible isolation of specific broadly neutralizing VHHs.…”