Risk Factors for and Seroprevalence of Tickborne Zoonotic Diseases among Livestock Owners, Kazakhstan

Abstract

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Q fever, and Lyme disease are endemic to southern Kazakhstan, but population-based serosurveys are lacking. We assessed risk factors and seroprevalence of these zoonoses and conducted surveys for CCHF-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices in the Zhambyl region of Kazakhstan. Weighted seroprevalence for CCHF among all participants was 1.2%, increasing to 3.4% in villages with a known history of CCHF circulation. Weighted seroprevalence was 2.4% for Lyme disease and 1.3% for Q fever. We found evidence of CCHF virus circulation in areas not known to harbor the virus. We noted that activities that put persons at high risk for zoonotic or tickborne disease also were risk factors for seropositivity. However, recognition of the role of livestock in disease transmission and use of personal protective equipment when performing high-risk activities were low among participants.

Seroprevalence of Crimean‐Congo haemorrhagic fever among three selected risk human groups in disease‐endemic region of Pakistan

“…The risk of seropositivity was significantly higher ( p = .0009) in those studied participants who have no knowledge about preventive measures for CCHFV infection. This is possibly because a few people know about the fact that infected animals are potential source for CCHFV dissemination and more than 50% butchers perform animal slaughtering without PPEs in abattoirs (Head et al, 2020). The finding of the current study is consistent to another questionnaire‐based study conducted in Karachi, Pakistan (Naveed et al, 2014).…”

“…Chakwal, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, risk factors, risk groups, seroprevalence animals for the spread of infection (Head et al, 2020). Animal-tohuman disease transmissibility also occurs through infected blood, tissue and body fluids, which raised public concern at the humananimal interface (Bente et al, 2013).…”

“…The CCHF is caused by Crimean‐Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), an RNA virus of the genus orthonairoviru s under family Nairoviridae (Adams et al, 2017). Tick bite is considered as the primary factor along with direct contact with viraemic farm animals for the spread of infection (Head et al, 2020). Animal‐to‐human disease transmissibility also occurs through infected blood, tissue and body fluids, which raised public concern at the human–animal interface (Bente et al, 2013).…”

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV): A Silent but Widespread Threat

“…Given the silent nature of CCHFV in the vector and non-human vertebrate hosts, the virus remains largely unnoticed until human cases arise, hallmarked by a sudden onset of symptoms [ 1 ]. While CCHFV is considered a tick-borne disease, incidence of human infection is not solely attributed to tick bites [ 23 , 24 ]. In a review article written by Ergönül in 2006, a little over 3400 human cases of CCHF had been reported since 1945, with the majority of cases originating in Southeast Europe, followed by Asia, the Middle East, and Africa in numbers of cases [ 25 ].…”

“…Additionally, religious holidays in countries where CCHFV is endemic, such as Eid-al-Adha, pose an increased risk for human exposure as cattle and sheep, known vertebrate hosts of CCHFV, are sacrificed [ 29 ]. No matter the region where risk is assessed, higher risk of CCHFV infection is widely associated with tick exposure (tick bite or handling tick with bare hands) or animal exposure (herders, agricultural works, abattoirs, veterinarians) [ 23 , 24 ]. Nosocomial infections, where there is human-to-human transmission, can occur in a healthcare setting.…”