The Open Virology Journal

2013, 7 : 81-83
Published online 2013 August 22. DOI: 10.2174/1874357901307010081
Publisher ID: TOVJ-7-81

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 A Case Report of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Ostriches in Iran

Ehsan Mostafavi1 , Sadegh Chinikar, *,2 , Maryam Moradi1,2 , Neda Bayat1,3 , Mohsen Meshkat4 , Mohammad Khalili Fard5 and Seyyed Mojtaba Ghiasi2
1 Department of Epidemiology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
2 Laboratory of Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (National Reference Laboratory), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
3 School of Public Health and Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Center of Animal Disease Control, Iran Veterinary Organization, Ministry of Jihad-e-Keshavarzi, Tehran, Iran
5 Isfahan Veterinary Head Office, Iran Veterinary Organization, Ministry of Jihad-e-Keshavarzi, Isfahan, Iran

* Address correspondence to this author at the Laboratory of Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (National Reference Laboratory), Pasteur Institute of Iran, No. 69, Pasteur Ave, 1316943551, Tehran, Iran; Tel: +98-21-66496448; Fax: +98-21-66496448; E-mails: , chinikar@pasteur.ac.ir

ABSTRACT

Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral zoonosis, which is usually transmitted via tick bites or close contact with infected blood or tissue. This disease can cause a case fatality rate of up to 25%-30% in humans. CCHF Infection in birds is less documented. An ostrich can reproduce viruses and can also play the role of a mechanical vector, by transporting infected ticks without becoming ill. In March 2007, three butchers and one worker in an ostrich farm were infected with CCHF in central part of Iran. Considering the role ostriches play in transmitting the disease, serum samples from five ostriches of that farm were taken and sent to the laboratory for CCHF ELISA tests. The result of the IgG test was positive for one (20%) of the ostriches. At the same time, serum samples of eight sheep from the same farm were sent for IgG testing, two (25%) of which were positive. This was the first report of CCHF infection of an ostrich in Iran and tracing CCHF IgG against this ostrich and the afore-mentioned sheep may have revealed that the disease in the worker was the cause of transmission of this disease from these animals or their ticks.

Keywords: :

CCHF, bird, animal contact, Iran..