Introduction
As per World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, 17% all infectious
diseases are owing to vectors, results in more than 700000 deaths
annually (). In recent days, many public health emergency situation have
been noticed globally, due to upsurge in emerging infectious diseases of
zoonotic origin, and most of them are transmitted by ticks and
mosquitoes (Al‐Abri et al., 2017). The Ixodid tick, Hyalomma sppis one of the widely distributed tick species in Asian countries, acts
as a potential vector for CCHF infection in humans and tropical bovine
theileriosis in animals, respectively (Manjunathachar et al., 2019).
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a trans-boundary disease,
caused by CCHFV belonging to the family Nairoviridae (Spengler
and Bente, 2017). The CCHF infection is endemic in many regions, such as
Africa, Eastern and Southern Europe, and Central Asia where numerous
wild and domestic animals serve as asymptomatic reservoirs and play
important role in natural circulation of virus (Ergonul, 2006; Mourya et
al., 2015; Spengler 2016; Mourya et al., 2019, Al-Abri et al., 2017).
The virus is maintained in nature in Ixodid ticks mostly of genusHyalomma by trans-ovarial and trans-stadial transmission (Malik
et al., 2020). Considering its havoc on public health and wide
geographic distributions, WHO has enlisted CCHF as the top priority
disease and urged research and development actions (Mehand et al.,
2018).
In recent years, the virus appears to be extending its horizon across
the countries and many human cases are reported due to globalization
(Mourya et al 2012; Al‐Abri et al., 2017). In India, after a first
confirmed case of CCHF, sporadic cases and outbreaks were reported since
2011, from different districts of Gujarat State. Similarly, in Rajasthan
state after reporting animal positivity in the year 2010, several CCHF
outbreaks, constant engagement and positivity rate of CCHF in ticks was
recorded (Yadav et al, 2016; Mourya et al 2012, 2019). Nevertheless, the
asymptomatic animals could provide virus for tick-borne transmission to
susceptible humans, thus play an important role in maintenance and
epidemiology of the disease. ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune
have been reported 81 CCHF positive human cases in from 2011 to December
2018 in India, depicts the need of active surveillance (Mourya et al.,
2019). Recently, health authorities issued a high alert situation in
Gujarat and Rajasthan states of India upon encountering of cases
(35-50% mortality), urges the need for proper diagnosis and preventive
measures (IDSP, 2019).
The apicomplexan protozoan parasites such as Theileria orBabesia spp . are also transmitted by Ixodid ticks and can infect
domestic, wild animals and humans (Chen et al., 2014, Gabrielli et al.,
2014). Theileria annulata causes lymphoproliferative disease in
cattle and responsible for high mortality and morbidity, thus leads to
food insecurity and heavy economic losses. In India, the estimated
losses accounted due to theileriosis is US 1295 million dollars annually
(Narladkar, 2018). Few scientific shreds of evidence show that someTheileria spp . are causes severe life-threatening infection in
humans (Chen et al., 2014; Gabrielli et al., 2014). Considering the
world largest population of cattle and its importance in national
economy, food security, control and prevention of tick borne diseases is
paramount important (Dept. Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Govt. of India,
2019). Although evidence of CCHFV and theileriosis in livestock were
reported in India, constant surveillance and monitor the presence and
regional distribution of pathogens is much needed to define potential
risk zones (Yadav et al, 2016; Mourya et al 2012, 2019; Narladkar,
2018). Considering the ecological niche of study area, where rich in
bio-diversity, abundance of competent vector species, constant
wild-domestic-human interface, and the Madhya Pradesh is bordered by
three outbreak states (Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh), study was
designed to evaluate the prevalence of CCHFV in animals and genetic
diversity of the Theileria annulata in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.