Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus Detected in Ticks Hyalomma aegyptium (L., 1758) (Ixodidae) parasitising on tortoises Testudo graeca L., 1758 (Testudinidae) in Bulgaria

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is endemic in Bulgaria where the primary vector and reservoir are ticks Hyalomma marginatum. The present study examined the role of ticks Hyalomma aegyptium parasit-izing on tortoises Testudo graeca in circulation of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus. A total of 81 ticks H. aegyptium were collected from 23 specimens of T. graeca in Kardzhali District, SE Bulgaria. Real-time RT-PCR was performed for the detection of CCHFV RNA. CCHFV genome was detected in 10 specimens of H. aegyptium collected from two T. graeca hosts (infection rate 12.3 %). Further studies on H. aegyptium and their hosts are needed to assess their role as CCHFV vectors and reservoirs in SE Bulgaria.