Experimental Transmission of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus by Hyalomma Truncatum Koch

Abstract

Larval Hyalomma truncatum ticks were infected with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus by allowing them to engorge on viremic newborn mice. The overall tick infection rate was 4.4% (24/542). Virus was detected in specimens for greater than or equal to 160 days postinfection. Transstadial transmission to the adult tick stage was observed and horizontal transmission to a mammalian host was demonstrated. Horizontal transmission of CCHF virus to uninfected adult ticks occurred while feeding with transstadially infected ticks on the same host. No evidence of transovarial virus transmission from infected female ticks to their 1st generation progeny was observed.