Detection Of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus (Cchfv) In Ticks Collected From Livestock In Ghana

ABSTRACT Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is an arbovirus which belongs to the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever serogroup. It belongs to the viral family, Nairoviridae and genus, Orthonairovirus. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever serogroup and Nairobi sheep disease serogroup both fall under this genus. Viruses from these two serogroups are pathogenic to humans and animals respectively, and therefore have a significant economic impact. Tick species of three genera are known to transmit these viruses; Rhipicephalus, Amblyomma, and Hyalomma. This study focused on screening field-collected ticks for the presence of CCHFV. Ticks were collected from dogs, sheep, cattle and goats in seven sites within three regions of Ghana; Greater Accra, Northern and Upper East. A total of 1,813 ticks were collected and morphologically identified using the African Ixodidae identification keys. Ticks were pooled (by species, gender, the site collected, and animal host), homogenized, nucleic acid extracted and screened for CCHFV. Seven of the pools were positive for CCHFV and were further analyzed using United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) next-generation RNA Access protocol. Sequencing performed on all seven pools failed to confirm the presence of CCHFV however, the resulting data from an Amblyomma variegatum pool (from Michel camp-Greater Accra) showed whole genome sequence of Dugbe virus. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete sequence of the L and S segments of the genome using maximum likelihood tree algorithm showed a close relationship (bootstrap value of 99%) with the Dugbe strain previously found in Ghana. However, there was also a close relationship with the reference Dugbe virus strains from Kenya and Nigeria with a bootstrap value of 99%. The findings from this surveillance study demonstrate the circulation of Dugbe virus in Ghana. Therefore, the need to further investigate to detect the virus prevalence and risk of human and veterinary infections in Accra and the country as a whole.