Detection of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and theileriosis in
livestock, Madhya Pradesh, Central India
Abstract
Tick borne diseases impinge veterinary and public health, worldwide
causing threat to nutritional security, mortality and huge economic
losses. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and theileriosis are the
two important tick-borne diseases in humans and animals respectively,
risk the public health due to mortality and pose major threat to animal
husbandry and livestock industries. Sero-epidemiological and genetic
analysis are the key aspects in determining the prevalence of CCHF virus
(CCHFV) circulation and molecular prevalence of theileriosis in region
wise, which are overlooked in the India, where the country known for
largest cattle population, globally. Thus, the present study aims to
evaluate the prevalence of CCHFV in animals and genetic diversity of the
prevailing Theileria annulata in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
Systematically, livestock population was screened for presence of CCHFV
antibodies and T. annulata through commercial IgG ELISA kits and PCR,
respectively. Overall, 16% of samples (n=63/393) tested were positive
for CCHFV-specific IgG antibodies and 15.9% (n-21/132) animals were
positive for T. annulata infections, respectively. It indicates that,
CCHFV is circulating in this region in an unnoticed hidden manner. It
recommends that, screening of human cases showing hemorrhagic
manifestations in health care setup and active surveillance of ticks as
a preparedness to combat future outbreaks. Moreover, designing region
wise preventive strategic plan may curb these emerging as well as
economic tick-borne diseases.