Co-circulation of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and spotted fever group Rickettsia in cattle and ticks from cattle in Kosovo.

BACKGROUND: Changes in climate and land use as well as expanding livestock production around the world, including southeastern Europe, result in growing public health risk of tick-borne pathogens. Cattle and other livestock serve as important hosts sustaining tick populations as well as tick-borne zoonotic and animal pathogens. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and co-circulation of the spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp. in ticks from cattle and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in cattle in Kosovo. METHODS: Ticks from pastured cattle in the Malishevë district, Kosovo were screened for SFG Rickettsia spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing and cattle serum was screened for CCHFV antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ticks were identified by amplification and sequencing of the partial COI gene. RESULTS: All 110 ticks analyzed were identified as Rhipicephalus annulatus. SFG Rickettsia were detected in 9 ticks, seven Rickettsia aeschlimannii and two Rickettsia sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae, representing their first report in Kosovo as well as in Rh. annulatus. Serological assessment revealed CCHFV antibodies in 23 of 100 cattle indicating virus circulation. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate the simultaneous exposure of bacterial and viral tick-borne pathogens in a shared livestock interface. Integrated One Health surveillance is essential for early detection and risk mitigation in hyperendemic regions of the Western Balkans.