title: Spectrum of Viral Pathogens in Blood of Malaria-Free Ill Travelers Returning to Canada.
abstract: Malaria is the most common specific cause of fever in returning travelers, but many other vectorborne infections and viral infections are emerging and increasingly encountered by travelers. We documented common and emerging viral pathogens in malaria-negative specimens from ill travelers returning to Canada. Anonymized, malaria-negative specimens were examined for various viral pathogens by real-time PCR. Samples were positive for herpes simplex viruses 1 or 2 (n = 21, 1.6%), cytomegalovirus (n = 4, 0.3%), Epstein-Barr virus (n = 194, 14.9%), dengue virus types 1-4 (n = 27, 2.1%), chikungunya virus (n = 5, 0.4%), and hepatitis A virus (n = 12, 0.9%). Travel-acquired viral pathogens were documented in >20% of malaria-negative specimens, of which 2.5% were infected with dengue and chikungunya viruses. Our findings support the anecdotal impression that these vectorborne pathogens are emerging among persons who travel from Canada to other countries.
authors.forename: Ruwandi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kariyawasam
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eshaghi
authors.forename: Samir N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sider
authors.forename: Jonathan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gubbay
authors.forename: Andrea K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Boggild
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018070:Biological Specimen Banks; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060085:Coinfection; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012367:RNA, Viral; D065288:Serogroup; D014195:Travel; D014766:Viremia; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Canada; Flaviviridae; Togaviridae; chikungunya virus; dengue virus; fever in returned travelers; flaviviruses; imported viral infections; pathogens; travel medicine; travel-acquired viral pathogens; tropical medicine; vectorborne infections; viruses