Detection of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus circulating in ticks and cattle in Plateau and Kaduna States, Nigeria

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) poses a significant threat to human health in Nigeria. This study provides an updated assessment of the prevalence and distribution of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in cattle and tick vectors in North Central Nigeria. We investigated 333 cattle from Plateau and Kaduna States in Northern Nigeria using molecular and quantitative modelling techniques. Screening for CCHF antibody was performed using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The study estimated a seroprevalence of 67.00% for IgG antibodies of CCHFV. Additionally, the virus was detected in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus, which serves as a reservoir host. Among the 41 pools of ticks tested for CCHF, only one pool out of the 35 Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) ticks (2.40%) tested positive for the virus. This positive pool's RT-qPCR cycle threshold (CT) value was 31.88. The detection of CCHFV in both cattle (the amplifying host) and ticks (the reservoir vector) underscores the need for active surveillance. Appropriate tick control mechanisms should be established to prevent disease spread to humans. Education and awareness among human and animal health workers are essential to prevent nosocomial outbreaks. This research contributes valuable insights to our understanding of CCHF dynamics in Nigeria and informs strategies for disease prevention and control.