Tick survey and detection of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in tick species from a non-endemic area, South Marmara region, Turkey.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an increasing health concern in Turkey since 2002. There were also some recent human cases from the South Marmara region of Turkey; thus, a tick survey was performed, and possible vector tick species for the CCHF virus were determined in the region. A total of 740 adult ticks were collected from infested livestock from five locations: Çanakkale-Biga, Bursa-Orhaneli, Bursa-Keles, Balikesir and Bilecik. Total of 11 tick species from the genera Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus, Dermacentor, Ixodes and Haemaphysalis were identified. Rhipicephalus ticks were dominant in the region; the most frequently observed tick species was R. turanicus, (53.1 %), and only 15.4 % of the identified ticks were H. marginatum. The occurrence of H. rufipes infestation in the region fort he first time. A total of 73 pools of adult ticks were tested with both an antigen-detecting ELISA and RT real-time PCR (RT rt PCR). The presence of the CCHF virus was demonstrated in 9 (12.3 %) of the tested tick pools. Although seven of the tick pools were positive for the CCHF virus with both of the methods, one pool was positive only with RT rt PCR and the other pool was only positive with the ELISA. Positive results were obtained from ticks collected from cattle, sheep and goats from two locations, Bursa-Orhaneli and Bilecik. The CCHF virus was detected in R. turanicus (n = 3), R. bursa (n = 2), H. marginatum (n = 2) and D. marginatus (n = 2) ticks. The results of this study confirm the presence of the CCHF virus and present preliminary data on the vector tick species in the southern Marmara region of Turkey.

[Macrocheles sp. (Acarina: Macrochelidae) found on a bumble bee]. / Bir bombus arisinda Macrocheles sp. (Acarina: Macrochelidae) olgusu.

A female arthropod was found on a bumble bee and was found to be an acaria belonging to the genus Macrocheles sp (Acarina: Macrochelidae). This is the first time that the parasitic acaria, which is found in many parts of the world, has been reported on bumble bees in Turkey.

[Mite species found in house dust in houses in Bursa.]. / Bursa evlerinde bulunan ev tozu akar türleri.

Sixty four samples of house dust were examined in order to detect the prevalence of the mite species and to identity them in houses in Bursa. Thirty two houses with or without central heating system were included in the study. A total of 22 (34.38%) houses were found to be infested with house dust mites. The rate of infestation was 18.75% and 50.00% in the houses with and without central heating system, respectively. The mite species and their prevalence were as follows: 58.34% Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, 16.67%, Glycophagus domesticus 12.50% Dermatophagoides spp., 4.16% D. farinae, 4.16% Tyrophagus spp. and 4.16% unidentified Acarid species.