German Partnership Program for Excellence in Biological and Health Security -

Prevalence and Diagnosis of Crimean-Congo-Hemorrhagic Fever, Rift Valley Fever and

Henipavirus-Infections in Mauretania, Sierra Leone, Cameroon and DR Congo

Martin H. Groschup, Martin Eiden, Marc Mertens, Anne Balkema-Buschmann

Melanie Rissmann, Miriam Andrada Sas, Claudia Mroz

Introduction

Crimean-Congo-Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV), Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV) and Henipavirus (HeV / NiV) are

infectious agents that can cause severe diseases in livestock, wildlife and humans. All three highly pathogenic viruses

are assumed to be present in sub-Saharan African countries, but their true prevalence and pathogenicity have never

been verified to date.

As infections in humans and animals are often fatal and no reliable vaccines or therapeutic agents are available, these

agents can be a major public health risk in case of an intended or unintended introduction into Europe or elsewhere.

Therefore efficient networks with scientists and authorities in African countries where these highly pathogenic viruses are

supposedly endemic, the establishment of local confirmatory diagnostic capacities by the exchange of material and

knowledge is needed.

Within the framework of this project prevalence and distribution data for these viruses will be collected. On the basis of

obtained data, risk areas will be defined and public protection methods as well as pathogen ascertainment procedures

will be implemented. This will be achieved by a coordinated and supportive collaboration of the Friedrich-Loeffler-

Institute (FLI) and African partner laboratories.

RVFV

Family Bunyaviridae

Genus Phlebovirus

Causative agent of abortions in

livestock and neurological or

hemorrhagic symptoms in humans

Vector: Mosquito

HeV / NiV

Family Paramyxoviridae

Genus Henipavirus

Causative agent of respiratory and

neurological symptoms in humans and

livestock

Vector / Reservoir: Fruit-Bat

Collaborating partners Sierra Leone Mauretania Cameroon DR Congo

Contact: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute - Federal Research Institute for Animal Health

Südufer 10

17493 Greifswald, Germany

Aims of the project

• An intensive training of African scientists at the FLI is creating

the basis for the ability to determine the presence of CCHFV, RVFV, HeV / NiV by reliable serological and molecular diagnostic techniques in participating laboratories.

Capacity building

• Results will be communicated to the wider public with the help of public health systems, participating laboratories and universities.

Awareness raising

• Studies on seroprevalence by ELISA and immunofluorescence tests and virus detection by modern molecular methods will be carried out.

Surveillance

• Networks for information and collaboration will be created.

Network

• Getting ready for the unexpected: by characterization of the relevant pathogens and development of specific diagnostic techniques which will be available for both the European and the African laboratories.

Prepardeness

• Genome sequencing and characterization of individual isolates enables the retrospective traceability of individual pathogens.

Traceability

Ring

trials

Training courses at

FLI

FLI scientists

visit African laboratories

Refresh courses

Methods and

Realization

Head-Coordinator: Prof.Dr.Martin H.Groschup

martin.groschup@fli.bund.de

Germany Austria

FAO -

International

Atomic Energy

Agency

Njala

University,

Department of

Animal Science

Centre National

de l'Élevage et de

Recherches

Vétérinaires

National

Veterinary

Laboratory

Laboratoire

Vétérinaires de

Lubumbashi /

Université de

Lubumbashi

Friedrich-

Loeffler-

Institute

2nd Coordination Group Meeting in Nouakchott

Martin Groschup Hermann Unger Saidu Kanu Baba Doumbia Pongombo Céléstin Abdoulkadiri Souley

Annual meetings

and reports

Maloba Kasongo

CCHFV

Family Bunyaviridae

Genus Nairovirus

Causative agent of hemorrhagic

fever symptoms in humans

Vector: Hyalomma tick

FLI scientist visits Nouakchott

at FLI facilities

at FLI facilities

at FLI facilities