Phylogeny of tick-derived Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus strains in Iran

Abstract

The presence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in Iran was assessed by collecting ticks from Golpayegan, Isfahan Province. Real time RT-PCR was used to detect the CCHFV RNA in the tick population and the origins of the viral sequences were determined. The CCHFV RNA was detected in 5.2% of 492 ticks collected from livestock in different regions of Golpayegan. The tick species that tested positive for the presence of CCHFV RNA included Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus and Haemaphysalis species. Phylogenetic analysis using the partial S-segment indicated that eight sequences clustered in clade IV (Asia-1) and three other sequences aligned within clade VI (Europe) with other CCHFV strains from Kosovo (Kosova1917) and Russia (Kashmanov).