Rapid detection and characterization of Chikungunya virus by RT-PCR in febrile patients from Kerala, India
Autor(es): Joseph Anu Yamuna, Babu Vidhu Sankar, Dev Sona S, Gopalakrishnapai Jayashree, Harish M, Rajesh M D, Anisha S, Mohankumar C
Resumo: There has been a resurgence - prevalence of fever with symptoms of Chikungunya (CHIK) - increased death toll in Kerala, the southern-most state of India. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid detection method to determine the presence of CHIK- virus in the serum samples collected from febrile patients in Kerala, India. Serum specimens were analyzed for CHIK viral RNA by RT-PCR using primers specific for nsP1 - E1 genes. Five out of twenty clinical samples were positive for CHIK virus. The partial sequences of the E1 - nsP1 genes of the strain, IndKL01 were highly similar to the Reunion strains - the recently isolated Indian strains. A novel substitution, A148V, was detected in the E1 gene of the isolate, IndKL02. The detection procedure used in this study was simple, sensitive - rapid (less than 4 hr). This result suggests that CHIK viruses similar to the Reunion strains, which had resulted in high morbidity - mortality rates, may have caused the recent Chikungunya outbreak in India. The effect of the variant, E1-A148V, in the virulence - the rate of transmission of the virus deserves further investigation.
Imprenta: Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, v. 46, n. 8, p. 573-578, 2008
Descritores: Chikungunya virus - Biochemistry ; Chikungunya virus - Molecular structure ; Chikungunya virus - Pathogenesis ; Chikungunya virus - Proteins ; Chikungunya virus - RNA ; Chikungunya virus - Viral infections ; Chikungunya virus - PCR detection ; Chikungunya virus - RT-PCR ; Chikungunya Virus - Virus ; Chikungunya virus - Transmission ; Chikungunya virus - Chikungunya fever
Data de publicação: 2008
