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Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever
Chikungunya fever is a human illness basically produced by mosquito which has chikungunya virus. In last 40 years chikungunya virus causing a biggest reported outbreaks of chikungunya fever. The chikungunya virus first introduced in 1952 in Tanzania.  During the 1950s and 1960s outbreaks were identified in Asia.


In 2005 chikungunya outbreak reports unlimited population suffered from CHIK fever which is occurred in south Asia and islands in the Indian Ocean. In 2006 1.3 million CHIK cases reported in India and disease attack rate 45% increase in some areas. Therefore mortality was rare, with substantial results. In recent outbreaks reported patients cut off all the work during 35 days and during 18 months 60% patients had persistent arthralgia. In 2007 Indian viremice traveler introduce the CHIKV in northern Italy, in the result .200 cases show in this area. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are most common CHIKV vectors.


Chikungunya virus basically is an arbovirus, belonging to the Togaviridea family and Alphavirus genus. Alphavirus can be classified further into arthritic viruses and encephalitic viruses. Alphavirus genus has 29 viruses but just 9 viruses belonging to the arthritic virus group, which are O’nyong-nyong virus, Semliki forest virus, Ross River virus, Sindbis virus, Mayaro virus and CHIKV. Western equine encephalitis and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus are the expamles of encephalitic viruses. Chikungunya name is originates from Tanzania word “Makonde” means is “that which bends up” or “stooped over” or “walking bent over” or “bent walker”,  referring to the posture patients due to arthralgia.


CHIKV have a very small diameter (60 to 70 nm), enveloped, spherical in shape, with RNA positive stand virus. CHIK viral genome is 12 kb long, having polyA tail on 3′ end and capped on 5′ end. The genome has two open reading frames (ORFs), that is code for two polyproteins. These polyproteins are converted into 4 non-structural proteins (nsP1, nsP2, nsP3, nsP4) or 5 structural proteins (C, E3, E2, 6K, E1) by using host cellular proteases.


CHIK virus is transmitted by mosquitoes or affected vertebrates and arthropods. In their whole life these arthropods remain infected. Aedes is a main mosquito species which is used for transmission of CHIKV into humans.  Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and Aedes polynesiensis are commonly used Aedes mosquito species which is involved in transmission. In some cases Culex has also been involved in the transmission of CHIK virus. In Africa Aedes furcifer and Aedes africanus is used for CHIKV transmission, African CHIKV circulates in a sylvatic or enzootic cycle. 


A recent Indian study reported that Anopheles stephensi also used for the transmission of CHIK virus[16]. Therefor only Aedes was the cause of Indian Ocean outbreak. Monkeys and vertebrates are the common reservoirs for chikungunya virus. Cattle and rodents also play a role in the transmission of CHIK virus. After the transmission chikungunya virus replicates in our skin and then separates by using blood stream   throughout the body parts such as brain, muscles, joints, liver, lymphoid tissue( lymph nots and spleen.


In recent cases, the medical community did not give any attention to the chikungunya fever like other arboviruses( West Nile viruses and dengue). Due to its rapid spread, explosive onset, myriad clinical manifestation and high morbidity Chikungunya fever has drawn the global attention.


CHIKV fever led to many severe clinical manifestations such as hemorrhage, myocarditis, hepatitis and neurological complications. Primary amplifying host of CHIKV are humans and other primates. These amplifying hosts are travel and introduced the infection into nonendemic areas. The recent reported study is shows that symptoms are expressed in a week after the infection.


In laboratory diagnosis specific anti-CHIKV IgM and IgD is used for the detection of virus from blood sample. CHIK commercial kits also present which give the perfect specificity and sensitivity.

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