Geographical Distribution of Ticks Ixodidae in Côte d'Ivoire: Potential Reservoir of the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus

Background: Ticks and tick-borne diseases are a major issue. These recent years, tick-borne diseases have attracted much attention because of their increasing incidence and the significant damage that they cause to livestock and human health. The objective was to identify the different species of ticks found in cattle and to determine the prevalence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in these different areas. Methods: The study was conducted in five regions of Côte d'Ivoire belonging to different geographic areas. The ticks were collected from cattle. The identification of ticks was done with a binocular microscope using the identification keys. The detection of CCHFV was done by RT-PCR using specific primers and probes. Findings: Of the ticks sampled, 4088 (96.9%) were adults. Of the genera Amblyomma, Hyalomma, and Rhipicephalus. The genus Rhipicephalus had the highest number with 54.3% of the collected ticks embodied in five species. It is followed by the genus Amblyomma with 43.7% and represented by only one species. The genus Hyalomma represented by seven species was obtained in a low proportion of 2.1%. The predominant species identified was Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus with (48.7%), followed by the species Amblyomma variegatum (43.7%), and the other species <2%. In this study, CCHFV was detected in ticks belonging to the three genera identified. All-inclusive, 16 ticks (0.37%) out of 4219 collected from cattle tested positive for CCHFV. The species tested positive for CCHFV are A. variegatum, Hyalomma impressum, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) geigyi, R. (B.) microplus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. All 16 ticks positive for CCHFV are adults and were obtained from the Korogho (11 ticks) and Bouaflé (5 ticks) regions. Conclusion: Three genera of ticks, Amblyomma, Hyalomma, and Rhipicephalus and 13 species infesting cattle were identified during this study. Eleven ticks were positive for CCHFV in Korhogo and five in Bouaflé. The genus mainly infested was A. Variegatum.