Autor(es): Ng Lee Ching, Hapuarachchi Hapuarachchige C

Resumo: Chikungunya fever has caught fresh attention as it raves around the globe. Since the first report of a major outbreak in Kenya in 2004, the disease has travelled across the Indian Ocean to the Indian subcontinent - subsequently to south-east Asia, resulting in millions of cases. Incidentally, the p-emic is panning out in a post-genomic era equipped with advanced molecular - bioinformatics tools that have facilitated the tracing, tracking - dissection of the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). The rapidly accumulated data - information have offered us a glimpse of the evolution - adaptation of the virus as the p-emic unfolds. This paper reviews the history of the disease - current knowledge of the evolution of CHIKV. The virus is known to have emerged from the sylvatic cycle in Africa, resulting in three genotypes - Western African, Eastern/Central African - Asian. Evidence from Asia suggests that the virus has the potential to return to the forest. Integrating genetic signatures with spatial - temporal data, we present a network that shows the possible geographical routes of the recent spread of CHIKV. Though evolutionary constrains are imposed on arboviruses by their obligations to fulfil the biological criteria of two different hosts (vertebrates - mosquitoes) during the transmission cycle, CHIKV has accumulated biologically important mutations that facilitated the recently changed epidemiology. It is evident that the virus has adapted to Ae. albopictus, without compromising its fitness in Ae. aegypti - the human host. Besides the E1-A226V - E2-I211T mutations that have led to the virus' adaptation to Ae. albopictus, we discuss the possible initial adaptation to urban Ae. aegypti - the role of environmental factors. CHIKV may continue to scorch regions with competent vectors, especially Ae. albopictus - a susceptible human population. A preemptive approach is necessary to combat this disease with very high epidemic potential.

Palavras-Chave: Chikungunya virus; Vectors; Evolution; Adaptation; Epidemiology; Environment

Imprenta: Infection, Genetics and Evolution, v. 10, n. 7, p. 876-885, 2010

Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1016/j.meegid.2010.07.012

Descritores: Chikungunya virus - Arbovirus ; Chikungunya virus - Pathogenesis ; Chikungunya virus - Viral infections ; Chikungunya Virus - Virus ; Chikungunya virus - Transmission ; Chikungunya virus - Chikungunya fever ; Chikungunya virus - Epidemic ; Chikungunya virus - Epidemiology

Data de publicação: 2010