Autor(es): Bocanegra Cristina, Antón Andrés, Sulleiro Elena, Pou Diana, Salvador Fernando, Roure Silvia, Gimferrer Laura, Espasa Mateu, Franco Leticia, Molina Israel, Valerio Lluís

Resumo: The Chikungunya virus (CKIKV) is currently present in America. Travel between America - Europe is particularly intense - one of the main vectors of CHIKV, Aedes albopictus, is well established in the Mediterranean basin. We describe a series of imported cases that could originate a European outbreak. We retrospectively studied cases of CHIKV originating in America - diagnosed in the last year in three Tropical Medicine Units of Barcelona of the International Health Program of the Catalan Health Institute (PROSICS). Clinical, microbiological - epidemiological data were analyzed. Forty-two CHIKV cases who had returned from 11 American countries were included. Fever was the most common symptom at onset (96.1%). Three months after symptom onset 50% continued with arthralgias, 35.3% fatigue - 11.8% arthritis. Three patients were viremic at the time of diagnosis by RT-PCR, - the remaining were diagnosed by serology (CHIKV IgM or IgG). Five (11.9%) patients had positive IgM for both dengue virus - CHIKV. The origin of the cases was diverse, the most frequent being initially the Dominican Republic, followed later by Venezuela - Colombia. Symptoms were not severe but persisted, accompanied by unremitting positive IgM. Diagnosis was mainly based on serology - RT-PCR, with the performance of the rapid immunochromatographic test being low. Phylogenetic studies showed that two viremic cases were caused by a strain of Asian lineage with a lower adaptability to Aedes albopictus. Co-infection with the dengue virus was common, but the clinical course was not affected by coinfection. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were administered to 71.4% - steroids to 21.4%. The number of imported cases of CHIKV in Spain is rising due to introduction of this virus in America, - this could lead to an autochthonous outbreak if Public Health measures are not taken.

Palavras-Chave: America; Barcelona; Chikungunya; Europe; Outbreak

Imprenta: Journal of Travel Medicine, v. 23, n. 3, 2016

Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1093/jtm/tav033

Descritores: Chikungunya virus - Infectious diseases ; Chikungunya virus - Serology ; Chikungunya virus - Viral infections ; Chikungunya virus - RT-PCR ; Chikungunya virus - Serology ; Chikungunya Virus - Virus ; Chikungunya virus - Chikungunya fever ; Chikungunya virus - Dengue ; Chikungunya virus - Public health

Data de publicação: 2016