Detection of a novel putative phlebovirus and first isolation of Dugbe virus from ticks in Accra, Ghana

Daisuke Kobayashi, Mitsuko Ohashi, Joseph H.N. Osei, Esinam Agbosu, Millicent Opoku, Alfred Agbekudzi, Joannitta Joannides, Ryosuke Fujita, Toshinori Sasaki, J. H.Kofi Bonney, Samuel Dadzie, Haruhiko Isawa, Kyoko Sawabe, Nobuo Ohta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ticks are ectoparasites that transmit various types of human and animal pathogens. In particular, emerging and re-emerging diseases caused by tick-borne viruses are public health concerns around the world. However, in many countries of the sub-Saharan African region, epidemiological information on tick-borne viral infections is limited, and their prevalence and distribution remain largely unknown. In this study, we conducted surveillance on ticks to detect medically important tick-borne bunyaviruses in three study sites in and near to Accra, the capital city of Ghana, in 2015. Domestic dogs and cattle were surveyed and were found to be infested with various tick species belonging to the genera Rhipicephalus, Amblyomma and Haemaphysalis. Importantly, we detected a novel putative phlebovirus in Rhipicephalus ticks, and successfully isolated a new strain of Dugbe virus from Am. variegatum ticks. To our knowledge, this is the first report of tick-associated viruses in Ghana other than Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)640-645
Number of pages6
JournalTicks and Tick-borne Diseases
Volume8
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Africa
  • Dugbe virus
  • Ghana
  • Nairovirus
  • Phlebovirus
  • Surveillance
  • Tick

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Detection of a novel putative phlebovirus and first isolation of Dugbe virus from ticks in Accra, Ghana'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this