Assessment of Recombination in the S-segment Genome of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Iran

• Main Authors: Sadegh Chinikar, Nariman Shah-Hosseini, Saeid Bouzari, MohammadAli Shokrgozar, Ehsan Mostafavi, Tahmineh Jalali, Sahar Khakifirouz, Martin H Groschup, Matthias Niedrig
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2016-02-01
• Series: Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases
• Subjects: Recombination; Phylogenetic; Diversity; Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever; Iran
• Online Access: https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/288

Background: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) belongs to genus Nairovirus and family Bunyaviridae. The main aim of this study was to investigate the extent of recombination in S-segment genome of CCHFV in Iran. Methods: Samples were isolated from Iranian patients and those available in GenBank, and analyzed by phyloge­netic and bootscan methods. Results: Through comparison of the phylogenetic trees based on full length sequences and partial fragments in the S-segment genome of CCHFV, genetic switch was evident, due to recombination event. Moreover, evidence of multi­ple recombination events was detected in query isolates when bootscan analysis was used by SimPlot software. Conclusion: Switch of different genomic regions between different strains by recombination could contribute to CCHFV diversification and evolution. The occurrence of recombination in CCHFV has a critical impact on epidemi­ological investigations and vaccine design.