TRANSMISSION OF CRIMEAN-CONGO HEMORRHAGIC-FEVER VIRUS BY HYALOMMA-IMPELTATUM (ACARI, IXODIDAE) AFTER EXPERIMENTAL-INFECTION

We examined the potential for Hyalomma impeltatum Schulze & Schlottke ticks to transmit Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus. Ater f eeding on 1-d-old mice that had been inoculated with CCHF virus, larva l H. impeltatum became infected with and subsequently transmitted CCHF virus transstadially to nymphs. These nymphs transmitted virus horizo ntally to guinea pigs and transstadially to adults. A minimum of 13% o f the adult H. impeltatum, exposed to virus as larvae, transmitted vir us by bite to guinea pigs. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detect ed CCHF viral antigen in 63% of the adult ticks derived from those exp osed to this virus as larvae. This tick species should be considered a s a potential vector of CCHF virus.