Serological survey and molecular investigation of tick-borne encephalitis virus in Northern Turkey

Öz

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an endemic viral zoonotic disease in many regions of Eurasia. In this study, whole blood, serum samples and the hard ticks collected from a variety of ruminant species (cattle, goat and sheep) in the middle Black Sea region of Turkey were investigated for the presence of RNA and IgG antibodies against Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). No TBEV genomic RNA was found in 2625 tick and 708 blood samples. However, serological examination for anti-TBEV antibodies revealed that TBEV IgG antibody was found as follow: cattle 61 of 198 (30.8%), goat 7 of 115 (6.1%) and sheep 15 of 147 (10.2%), and confirmed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Positivity rates for the provinces were as follows: Samsun 12.7%, Sivas 35.2% and Tokat 13.2%. This information supports previous findings of TBEV in ticks in Turkey and may be of relevance for public health considerations (in respect to vaccination recommendations for those exposed).

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Domestic animals
• Real time RT-PCR
• Seroprevalence
• Tick
• Tick-borne encephalitis virus

Türkiye'nin kuzeyinde Tick-borne ensefalitis virüsünün serolojik ve moleküler araştırması

Öz

Kene kaynaklı ensefalit (TBE), Avrasya'nın birçok bölgesinde endemik viral zoonotik bir hastalıktır. Bu çalışmada, Türkiye'nin Orta Karadeniz bölgesinde çeşitli ruminant türlerinden (sığır, keçi ve koyun) toplanan tam kan, serum örnekleri ve sert kenelerde Tick-borne ensefalitis virusuna karşı RNA ve IgG antikorlarının varlığı araştırıldı. 2625 kene ve 708 kan örneğinde TBEV genomik RNA bulunamadı. Bununla birlikte, anti-TBEV antikorları için yapılan serolojik inceleme, TBEV IgG antikorunun: 198 sığırdan 61'i (%30.8), 115 keçiden 7'si (%6.1) ve 147 koyundan 15'i (%10.2) ELISA yöntemiyle pozitif bulunmuştur. İller için pozitiflik oranları şu şekildedir: Samsun %12,7, Sivas %35,2 ve Tokat %13,2. Bu çalışma, Türkiye'deki kenelerde TBEV'nin önceki bulgularını desteklemektedir ve halk sağlığı açısından (maruz kalanlara yönelik aşı önerileri açısından) önem arzetmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Evcil hayvanlar
• Real time RT-PCR
• Seroprevelans
• Kene
• Tick-borne ensefalitis virusu

Kaynakça

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