Different lineages of Chikungunya virus in Equatorial Guinea in 2002 and 2006.
Chikungunya virus is a mosquito-borne virus that causes an acute febrile infection and severe arthralgia and is considered a re-emergent pathogen. During a study investigating arboviruses causing febrile infection in infants in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, the genome of this virus was amplified from blood samples during near two rainy seasons (2002-2003). In 2006, this virus was isolated from a traveler returning to Spain from Equatorial Guinea. These results show that chikungunya virus is present in this country and two lineages are circulating. Thus, this virus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of febrile syndromes in inhabitants and in travelers returning from this country.
Collao
Ximena
X
National Center of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. xime.collao@isciii.es
Negredo
Ana I
AI
Cano
Jorge
J
Tenorio
Antonio
A
Ory
Fernando de
Fd
Benito
Agustin
A
Masia
Mar
M
Sánchez-Seco
María-Paz
MP
D018354:Alphavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D016703:Equatorial Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010802:Phylogeny