Gasparine Morena, Namekong Fokeng Armand, Lopez Eva, Mvodo Stephanie, Thirion Laurence, Paguem Archile, Charrel Remi, de Lamballerie Xavier, Falchi Alessandra
Emerging Viruses Unit (UVE: University of Aix-Marseille, University of Corsica, Research Institute for Development (IRD) 190, National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) 1207, Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute (IRBA)), Corte, France.
Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2025 Jun 9;15:1578518. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1578518. eCollection 2025.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a widespread, tick-borne viral infection present in many African countries. Its epidemiology and impact on public health remain poorly understood in Cameroon. The main objective of the current study was to investigate the circulation of CCHF virus (CCHFV) in ruminants (cattle and goats), humans, and ticks collected simultaneously in a study area of Akonolinga, a health district in the central region of Cameroon. From the 15 to 28 July 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Akonolinga, by collecting survey data and serum samples (from humans, goats, and cattle) and picking ticks from cattle and goats. This study included 100 randomly selected households from eight localities. Data were also collected using questionnaires to assess CCHFV seropositivity-associated factors. Individual characteristics of 189 goats and 246 cattle were collected and the data geo-referenced. To assess the prevalence of CCHF, serological enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and molecular (real-time Reverse Transcriptase (RT) PCR) methods were used to detect antibodies targeting CCHF viral nucleoprotein and CCHFV-specific RNA in collected sera, respectively. The presence of CCHFV-specific RNA was also assessed in tick homogenate using real-time RT PCR. The overall CCHFV seroprevalence was 1.9% [95% CI (1.02%-3.64%)] in humans, 10.9% [n = 42; 95% CI (8.15%-14.38%)] in cattle, and 3.38% [n = 5; 95% CI (1.45%-7.66%)] in goats. Seroprevalence in cattle increased significantly with age. A total of 554 ticks were collected from 162 of the 386 (42%) cattle examined, with () being the dominant species. CCHFV RNA was detected in two sera of women sampled. Phylogenetic analysis of a small portion of the L segment classified the strain within the African genotype III. This study reported, for the first time, the proven exposure of the human population to CCHFV in central Cameroon, showing strong evidence that CCHFV is infecting humans. Serological analyses revealed exposure of cattle and goats to CCHFV-strains collected in the same geographical area. These results demonstrate the potential risk of CCHF emergence in the human population, especially in rural areas in close vicinity with animals.
克里米亚-刚果出血热（CCHF）是一种广泛存在的、由蜱传播的病毒感染，在许多非洲国家都有出现。在喀麦隆，其流行病学情况及其对公共卫生的影响仍知之甚少。本研究的主要目的是调查在喀麦隆中部地区一个卫生区阿科诺林加的研究区域内，同时采集的反刍动物（牛和山羊）、人类以及蜱中克里米亚-刚果出血热病毒（CCHFV）的传播情况。2024年7月15日至28日，在阿科诺林加开展了一项横断面研究，通过收集调查数据以及血清样本（来自人类、山羊和牛），并从牛和山羊身上采集蜱。本研究包括从八个地点随机选取的100户家庭。还通过问卷调查收集数据，以评估与CCHFV血清阳性相关的因素。收集了来自189只山羊和246头牛的个体特征数据，并进行了地理定位。为评估克里米亚-刚果出血热的流行情况，分别采用血清学酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）和分子（实时逆转录（RT）PCR）方法检测所采集血清中针对CCHF病毒核蛋白的抗体以及CCHFV特异性RNA。还使用实时RT-PCR在蜱匀浆中评估CCHFV特异性RNA的存在情况。CCHFV的总体血清阳性率在人类中为1.9% [95%置信区间（1.02%-3.64%）]，在牛中为10.9% [n = 42；95%置信区间（8.15%-14.38%）]，在山羊中为3.38% [n = 5；95%置信区间（1.45%-7.66%）]。牛的血清阳性率随年龄显著增加。从386头接受检查的牛中的162头（42%）身上共采集到554只蜱，其中 为优势种。在两名抽样女性的血清中检测到CCHFV RNA。对L基因片段的一小部分进行系统发育分析，将该毒株归类为非洲基因型III。本研究首次报告了喀麦隆中部地区人群已证实接触CCHFV，有力证明CCHFV正在感染人类。血清学分析显示牛和山羊接触了在同一地理区域采集的CCHFV毒株。这些结果表明在人群中，尤其是在与动物密切相邻的农村地区，克里米亚-刚果出血热出现的潜在风险。
