Impact of nanopore-based metagenome sequencing on tick-borne virus detection.

Introduction: We evaluated metagenomic nanopore sequencing (NS) in field-collected ticks and compared findings from amplification-based assays.

Methods: Forty tick pools collected in Anatolia, Turkey and screened by broad-range or nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) and Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) were subjected to NS using a standard, cDNA-based metagenome approach.

Results: Eleven viruses from seven genera/species were identified.

Molecular Detection of Tacheng Tick Virus-1 (TcTV-1) and Jingmen Tick Virus in Ticks Collected from Wildlife and Livestock in Turkey: First Indication of TcTV-1 Beyond China.

Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) and Tacheng tick virus-1 (TcTV-1) are emerging tick-borne viruses that have been recently confirmed to be etiological agents of human disease in China. However, the ecology of JMTV and TcTV-1, especially their association with ticks in wildlife and livestock, remains largely unknown in Turkey. Eight hundred thirty-two tick specimens in 117 pools were collected in Turkey between 2020 and 2022 from wildlife ( and  = 10, 1.

Several Tick-Borne Pathogenic Viruses in Circulation in Anatolia, Turkey.

We screened host-collected ticks for tick-borne viruses, including those recently documented as human pathogens. During 2020-2021, ticks removed form cattle, sheep, dogs, and cats in 11 provinces in 5 geographically distinct regions of Anatolia were identified, pooled, and screened using pan-nairovirus, pan-flavivirus and individual assays for Jingmen tick virus (JMTV), and Tacheng tick virus 1 and 2 (TcTV-1 and TcTV-2). A total of 901 tick specimens, comprising 6 species were included.

Utility of a Sequence-Independent, Single-Primer-Amplification (SISPA) and Nanopore Sequencing Approach for Detection and Characterization of Tick-Borne Viral Pathogens.

Currently, next generation sequencing (NGS) is the mainly used approach for identification and monitorization of viruses with a potential public health threat in clinical and environmental samples. To facilitate detection in NGS, the sequence-independent, single-primer-amplification (SISPA) is an effective tool for enriching virus sequences. We performed a preliminary assessment of SISPA-nanopore sequencing as a potential approach for screening tick-borne viruses in six specimens with detectable Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) sequences.

Multiple orthonairoviruses including Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Tamdy virus and the novel Meram virus in Anatolia.

We conducted orthonairovirus RNA screening of 7043 tick specimens-representing 16 species-collected from various regions of Anatolia. In 602 pools, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) Europe 1 and 2 lineages were detected in seven pools (1.1 %) comprising Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma scupense, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and Rhipicephalus turanicus ticks.

Survey and Characterization of Jingmen Tick Virus Variants.

We obtained a Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) isolate, following inoculation of a tick pool with detectable Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) RNA. We subsequently screened 7223 ticks, representing 15 species in five genera, collected from various regions in Anatolia and eastern Thrace, Turkey. Moreover, we tested specimens from various patient cohorts ( = 103), and canine ( = 60), bovine ( = 20) and avian specimens ( = 65).

Molecular and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) in dogs in southeast Anatolia, Turkey.

Canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) is the aetiological agent of an infectious viral disease of dogs, characterised by diarrhoea and vomiting. Mutations of the CPV-2 genome have generated new variants circulating worldwide. This article reports the molecular analysis of CPV-2 variants collected in the dog population in southeast Anatolia, Turkey.

Novel Tick Genotypes Lacking Evidence for Vertebrate Infections in Anatolia and Thrace, Turkey.

We screened ticks and human clinical specimens to detect and characterize tick phleboviruses and pathogenicity in vertebrates. Ticks were collected at locations in Istanbul (Northwest Anatolia, Thrace), Edirne, Kırklareli, and Tekirdağ (Thrace), Mersin (Mediterranean Anatolia), Adiyaman and Şanlıurfa (Southeastern Anatolia) provinces from 2013-2018 and were analyzed following morphological identification and pooling. Specimens from individuals with febrile disease or meningoencephalitic symptoms of an unknown etiology were also evaluated.

A cross-sectional screening by next-generation sequencing reveals Rickettsia, Coxiella, Francisella, Borrelia, Babesia, Theileria and Hemolivia species in ticks from Anatolia.

Background: Ticks participate as arthropod vectors in the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms to humans. Several tick-borne infections have reemerged, along with newly described agents of unexplored pathogenicity. In an attempt to expand current information on tick-associated bacteria and protozoans, we performed a cross-sectional screening of ticks, using next-generation sequencing.

A metagenomic survey identifies Tamdy orthonairovirus as well as divergent phlebo-, rhabdo-, chu- and flavi-like viruses in Anatolia, Turkey.

We employed a direct metagenomic approach via next-generation sequencing for a cross-sectional investigation of viruses in 10 tick pools, collected from Aegean, Mediterranean and central Anatolian locations in Turkey. Sequences from all genome segments of Tamdy orthonairovirus (family Nairoviridae) were characterized in ticks collected from a Meriones tristrami. We further obtained near-complete L and partial S segments of several tick-associated phleboviruses (family Phenuiviridae), including Tacheng tick virus 2 and a novel virus, tentatively named as the tick phlebovirus Anatolia.

A Snapshot Avian Surveillance Reveals West Nile Virus and Evidence of Wild Birds Participating in Toscana Virus Circulation.

Introduction: Birds are involved in the epidemiology of several vector-borne viruses, as amplification hosts for viruses, dissemination vehicles for the vectors, and sources of emerging strains in cross-species transmission. Turkey provides diverse habitats for a variety of wild birds and is located along major bird migration routes. This study was undertaken to provide a cross-sectional screening of avian specimens for a spectrum of vector-borne viruses.

Generic amplification and next generation sequencing reveal Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus AP92-like strain and distinct tick phleboviruses in Anatolia, Turkey.

Background: Ticks are involved with the transmission of several viruses with significant health impact. As incidences of tick-borne viral infections are rising, several novel and divergent tick- associated viruses have recently been documented to exist and circulate worldwide. This study was performed as a cross-sectional screening for all major tick-borne viruses in several regions in Turkey.

Canine Infections and Partial S Segment Sequence Analysis of Toscana Virus in Turkey.

Introduction: Toscana virus (TOSV) is a sandfly-borne bunyavirus with a significant public health impact. Preliminary studies have revealed TOSV exposure in dogs and they were suggested as potential reservoirs. This study was performed to characterize canine TOSV infections in an endemic region.

[Serological investigation of phlebovirus exposure in blood donors from the Mediterranean Province of Mersin, Turkey].

Phleboviruses are enveloped segmented RNA viruses, capable of inducing febrile disease and/or meningoencephalitis in exposed individuals, according to the infecting strain, following transmission via arthropods. Prototype medically-important phlebovirus strains responsible for sandfly fever are sandfly fever Sicilian virus (SFSV) and sandfly fever Naples virus (SFNV), where the SFSV variant sandfly fever Cyprus virus (SFCV) is also detected in individuals with febrile disease. Toscana virus (TOSV) is unique among phleboviruses as the cause of infections involving central nervous system.

Potential animal reservoirs of Toscana virus and coinfections with Leishmania infantum in Turkey.

Toscana virus (TOSV), a sandfly-borne phlebovirus, is an important agent of human meningoencephalitis in the Mediterranean region, for which vertebrates acting as reservoirs have not yet been determined. This study investigates TOSV and Leishmania infections in dogs, cats, sheep, and goats from Adana and Mersin provinces in southeastern Turkey. TOSV neutralizing antibodies were demonstrated in 40.

Isolation, genetic characterization, and seroprevalence of Adana virus, a novel phlebovirus belonging to the Salehabad virus complex, in Turkey.

Unlabelled: A new phlebovirus, Adana virus, was isolated from a pool of Phlebotomus spp. (Diptera; Psychodidae) in the province of Adana, in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Genetic analysis based on complete coding of genomic sequences indicated that Adana virus belongs to the Salehabad virus species of the genus Phlebovirus in the family Bunyaviridae.

Phlebovirus and Leishmania detection in sandflies from eastern Thrace and northern Cyprus.

Background: Phlebotomine sandflies are vectors of several pathogens with significant impact for public health. This study was conducted to investigate and characterize phlebovirus and Leishmania infections in vector sandflies collected in the eastern Thrace region in Turkey and Northern Cyprus, where previous data indicate activity of these agents.

Methods: Field sampling of sandflies was performed at 4 locations in Edirne and Tekirdag provinces of eastern Thrace and at 17 locations in Lefkosa, Girne, Magosa and Guzelyurt provinces of northern Cyprus.

Dobrava-Belgrade virus in Apodemus flavicollis and A. uralensis mice, Turkey.

In 2009, human Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV) infections were reported on the Black Sea coast of Turkey. Serologic and molecular studies of potential rodent reservoirs demonstrated DOBV infections in Apodemus flavicollis and A. uralensis mice.

Tick survey and detection of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in tick species from a non-endemic area, South Marmara region, Turkey.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an increasing health concern in Turkey since 2002. There were also some recent human cases from the South Marmara region of Turkey; thus, a tick survey was performed, and possible vector tick species for the CCHF virus were determined in the region. A total of 740 adult ticks were collected from infested livestock from five locations: Çanakkale-Biga, Bursa-Orhaneli, Bursa-Keles, Balıkesir and Bilecik.

Relationship between Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus strains circulating in Iran and Turkey: possibilities for transborder transmission.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an important zoonotic viral disease that is asymptomatic in infected livestock, but poses a serious threat to humans. The high fatality rate may be due to phylogenetic variations in the virus, transmission routes, and a lack of an efficient surveillance system for the disease. The geographical features of the eastern and southeastern borders of Turkey may facilitate transmission of viruses between countries of the region.

Concurrent Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and visceral leishmaniasis in a Turkish girl.

In this article, a case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and visceral leishmaniasis coinfection in a 14-month-old girl is reported. The case has been evaluated according to two different points of view based on the coexistence of CCHF and visceral leishmaniasis and a strongly suggested horizontal transmission of CCHF from her father. To the best of our knowledge, this coinfection has not been previously reported in literature.

Molecular epidemiology of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in Turkey: occurrence of local topotype.

The goal of this study was to investigate the molecular epidemiology of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in Turkey. The study was performed on a total of 48 confirmed human CCHF cases from 2006 to 2008. The majority of the CCHF viral strains in Turkey were found to belong to the European lineage.

Segment 10 based molecular epidemiology of bluetongue virus (BTV) isolates from Turkey: 1999-2001.

Bluetongue is a significant arbovirus infection that has a negative impact on ruminant productivity in Turkey. Twenty-one Turkish BTV isolates were analyzed phylogenetically, based on genome segment 10 (Seg-10) nucleotide sequences. These analyses were used to explore the epidemiological background of individual isolates from both a regional and global perspective.

Maturation of immunoglobulin G avidity after inactive gE deleted bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) marker vaccination.

Particularly for countries in which the prevalence of infection is high, prevention and control of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) can be done by vaccination programs. Recently, marker vaccines have been used in the control and eradication of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) infection. Vaccine protection and virus circulation were estimated by individual serological testing using both gB- and gE-ELISA blocking tests.