Entomologic and virologic investigation of Chikungunya, Singapore.
Local transmission of chikungunya, a debilitating mosquito-borne viral disease, was first reported in Singapore in January 2008. After 3 months of absence, locally acquired Chikungunya cases resurfaced in May 2008, causing an outbreak that resulted in a total of 231 cases by September 2008. The circulating viruses were related to East, Central, and South African genotypes that emerged in the Indian Ocean region in 2005. The first local outbreak was due to a wild-type virus (alanine at codon 226 of the envelope 1 gene) and occurred in an area where Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were the primary vector. Strains isolated during subsequent outbreaks showed alanine to valine substitution (A226V) and largely spread in areas predominated by Ae. albopictus mosquitoes. These findings led to a revision of the current vector control strategy in Singapore. This report highlights the use of entomologic and virologic data to assist in the control of chikungunya in disease-endemic areas.
Ng
Lee-Ching
LC
National Environment Agency, Singapore. ng_lee_ching@nea.gov.sg
Tan
Li-Kiang
LK
Tan
Cheong-Huat
CH
Tan
Sharon S Y
SS
Hapuarachchi
Hapuarachchige C
HC
Pok
Kwoon-Yong
KY
Lai
Yee-Ling
YL
Lam-Phua
Sai-Gek
SG
Bucht
Göran
G
Lin
Raymond T P
RT
Leo
Yee-Sin
YS
Tan
Boon-Hian
BH
Han
Hwi-Kwang
HK
Ooi
Peng-Lim S
PL
James
Lyn
L
Khoo
Seow-Poh
SP
D000330:Aedes / Q000821:virology; D018354:Alphavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D015752:Genes, env; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins