Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus Detected in Ticks Hyalomma aegyptium (L., 1758) (Ixodidae) parasitising on tortoises Testudo graeca L., 1758 (Testudinidae) in Bulgaria.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is endemic in Bulgaria where the primary vector and reservoir are ticks Hyalomma marginatum. The present study examined the role of ticks Hyalomma aegyptium parasitizing on tortoises Testudo graeca in circulation of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus. A total of 81 ticks H. aegyptium were collected from 23 specimens of T. graeca in Kardzhali District, SE Bulgaria. Real-time RT-PCR was performed for the detection of CCHFV RNA. CCHFV genome was detected in 10 specimens of H. aegyptium collected from two T. graeca hosts (infection rate 12.3 %). Further studies on H. aegyptium and their hosts are needed to assess their role as CCHFV vectors and reservoirs in SE Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]