Molecular epidemiology of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in Russia.

In this report, we present new data on the diversity and geographical distribution of genetic variants in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in Russia. Partial S, M, and L segment sequences of the CCHFV genome were obtained from 500 serum samples from CCHF patients and 103 pools of ticks collected in the south of the European region of Russia in 2007-2017. The investigated viral strains belonged to the lineages Europe 1 (596 samples), Africa 3 (1 sample) and a new genetic lineage, Europe 3 (6 samples).

Detection of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in ticks collected from South Russia.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has a central role among tick-borne infections in southern Russia. Multiple cases of disease are recorded annually in most regions with the СCHF foci; moreover, an expansion of the geographic range of the disease has been noted. Since 1999, more than 2300 people have fallen ill in Russia.