Re-emergence of Chikungunya virus in South-east Asia: Virological evidence from Sri Lanka and Singapore
Autor(es): Hapuarachchi H C, B-ara K B A T, Sumanadasa S D M, Hapugoda M D, Lai Yee-Ling, Lee Kim-Sung, Tan Li-Kiang, Lin Raymond T P, Ng Lisa F P, Bucht Göran, Abeyewickreme Wimaladharma, Ng Lee-Ching
Resumo: Chikungunya fever swept across many South - South-east Asian countries, following extensive outbreaks in the Indian Ocean Isl-s in 2005. However, molecular epidemiological data to explain the recent spread - evolution of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in the Asian region are still limited. This study describes the genetic Characteristics - evolutionary relationships of CHIKV strains that emerged in Sri Lanka - Singapore during 2006-2008. The viruses isolated in Singapore also included those imported from the Maldives (n=1), India (n=2) - Malaysia (n=31). All analysed strains belonged to the East, Central - South African (ECSA) lineage - were evolutionarily more related to Indian than to Indian Ocean Isl-s strains. Unique genetic characteristics revealed five genetically distinct subpopulations of CHIKV in Sri Lanka - Singapore, which were likely to have emerged through multiple, independent introductions. The evolutionary network based on E1 gene sequences indicated the acquisition of an alanine to valine 226 substitution (E1-A226V) by virus strains of the Indian sublineage as a key evolutionary event that contributed to the transmission - spatial distribution of CHIKV in the region. The E1-A226V substitution was found in 95.7 % (133/139) of analysed isolates in 2008, highlighting the widespread establishment of mutated CHIKV strains in Sri Lanka, Singapore - Malaysia. As the E1-A226V substitution is known to enhance the transmissibility of CHIKV by Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, this observation has important implications for the design of vector control strategies to fight the virus in regions at risk of chikungunya fever.
Imprenta: The Journal of General Virology, v. 91, Pt 4, p. 1067-1076, 2010
Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1099/vir.0.015743-0
Descritores: Chikungunya virus - Molecular structure ; Chikungunya virus - Pathogenesis ; Chikungunya Virus - Virus ; Chikungunya virus - Transmission ; Chikungunya virus - Chikungunya fever
Data de publicação: 2010
