Absence of IgG antibodies among high-risk contacts of two confirmed cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in the autonomous region of Madrid (Spain)

• Main Authors: Pello Latasa (Author), Fernando de Ory (Author), José Ramón Arribas (Author), Maria Ángeles Sánchez-Uriz (Author), Ignacio Sanchez-Arcilla (Author), María Ordobás (Author), Anabel Negredo (Author), Elena Trigo (Author), Pilar Delgado (Author), Marco Marzola (Author), Maria Ángeles Lopaz (Author), María Paz Sánchez-Seco (Author), Fernando de la Calle-Prieto (Author), Pilar Ferrera (Author), Elena Rodriguez (Author), Alejandro Martín (Author), Maria Felipa del Cerro (Author), Esther Córdoba (Author), Marta Mora-Rillo (Author), Maria José Esteban (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Elsevier, 2020-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a widely distributed tick-borne disease. In Spain, the disease has emerged as outbreak associated with high-risk exposures. Our goal was to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies against the CCHF virus (CCHFV) in high-risk contacts. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Three hundred eighty-six high-risk contacts were identified comprising family contacts and hospital workers who had attended the cases. Fifty-seven cases with closer exposure were selected. However, forty-nine cases participated in the study. IgG antibodies were detected by immunoenzymatic techniques. All determinations tested negative for anti-CCHFV IgG antibodies. Most of the responders were women (73.5%), and belong to the intensive care department (53.1%). In relation to other possible sources of exposures, 18.4% travelled to countries with CCHF transmission risk. No CCHF positivity was recorded among selected high-risk contacts. This highlights the importance of standard precautions which might have protected healthcare workers and care providers from CCHF infection.

Item Description

1876-0341
10.1016/j.jiph.2020.07.016