SEROLOGICAL SURVEY OF CCHFV IN CATTLE IN 10 REGIONS OF ALBANIA

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic vector-born viral disease with a case fatality rate of 2-50% in human. CCHFV is classified within the Nairovirus genus in the Bunyaviridae family. Its causative agent is a negative-sense, single-stranded (ss) RNA genome containing S (small), M (medium), and L (large) segments which encode for the nucleocapsid protein (NP), the envelope glycoproteins G1 and G2 and RNA-dependent polymerase, respectively. The virus can be transmitted mainly through direct contact with blood or tissues from infected livestock or through bites of Hyalomma ticks. The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of CCHFV among cattle of 10 regions in Albania respectively in (Has, Kavaje, Kukes, Berat, Kolonje, Pogradec, Rreshen, Korce (Bulgarec/Qatrom) and Gjirokastra). The data taken from this study indicates for the presence of CCHFV Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus in the country. The serums were conserved in -20°C and tested with immunological methods using indirect ELISA assay in Friedrich-Loeffler Institute (FLI), Greifswald Germany. Through this technique it was possible to identified IgG antibodies in infected serum samples. From these results we had an indication about the presence of IgG antibodies in 15 blood samples from 337 cattle in total. These results can clearly proved the presence of CCHFV in livestock in Albania.