Exploring the Chikungunya virus landscape in a dengue-endemic Brazilian area

• Published in: Journal of infection and public health Vol. 17; no. 7; pp. 102442 - None
• Main Authors: de La Roque, Debora Glenda Lima, Santos, Elaine Vieira, Policastro, Lucca Rocha, da Costa, Péricles Natan Mendes, Evaristo, Mariane, Yamamoto, Aparecida Yulie, Giomo, Denise Bergamaschi, Torres, Paula Marilia Afonso, Gentil, Danielle Cristina Dacanal, Minto, Elaine Cristina Manini, Slavov, Svetoslav Nanev, Fonseca, Vagner, dos Santos Barros, Claudia Renata, Martins, Antonio Jorge, Calado, Rodrigo Tocantins, Passos, Luzia Márcia Romanholi, Elias, Maria Carolina, Sampaio, Sandra Coccuzzo, Giovanetti, Marta, Covas, Dimas Tadeu, Alcântara, Luiz Carlos Júnior, Kashima, Simone
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Arbovirus; Brazil - epidemiology; Chikungunya Fever - blood; Chikungunya Fever - epidemiology; Chikungunya Fever - virology; Chikungunya virus; Chikungunya virus - genetics; Chikungunya virus - isolation & purification; Child; Child, Preschool; Dengue - epidemiology; Dengue - virology; Dengue Virus - classification; Dengue Virus - genetics; Dengue Virus - isolation & purification; Endemic Diseases; Female; Genotype; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Molecular epidemiology; Mutation; Phylogeny; RNA, Viral - genetics; Short Report; Thrombocytopenia - epidemiology; Thrombocytopenia - virology; Whole Genome Sequencing; Young Adult; Brazil; Molecular epidemiology; Phylogeny; Arbovirus; Chikungunya virus
• ISSN: 1876-0341; 1876-035X; 1876-035X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2024.04.026

We aimed to describe the landscape, including molecular, epidemiological, and clinical aspects of CHIKV infections in the Ribeirao Preto region, an area endemic to dengue. We randomly screened 3744 plasma samples that had undergone DENV diagnosis to evaluate CHIKV-RNA using an in-house RT-PCR assay. Positive samples were followed clinically, and RNA samples were submitted to whole genome sequencing. Seventeen cases (0.5 %) were positive for CHIKV-RNA despite being negative for DENV-RNA. Notably, half of the patients experienced prolonged arthralgia lasting more than 90 days. Compared with the healthy control group, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in all CHIKV-positive individuals with statistically significant P values (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0003, respectively). The genomic analysis revealed that the CHIKV strains being studied are classified within the East-Central-South-African (ECSA) genotype. This analysis identified new mutations, E1: K211E and E2: V264A, while the previously known mutation E1: A226V was not detected among these strains. This study highlights the need for epidemiological surveillance and preparedness for potential CHIKV epidemics in Brazil, particularly where other arboviruses co-circulate.