title: Laboratory surveillance of arboviral infections in a southern France region colonized by Aedes albopictus.
abstract: The establishment of Aedes albopictus in southern France, a recognized competent vector for several arboviruses, represents a new threat for the local transmission and spread of what were until recently considered as tropical diseases. A preparedness and response plan, based on vigilance of both clinicians and laboratories, has introduced significant changes in guidelines and behaviour regarding patients' care specifically during the activity period of mosquitoes. In the present study, we report the results of a 1-year activity in arboviral infection diagnosis. A total of 141 patients were included in this retrospective study. The number of suspected imported and autochthonous cases was 69 and 72, respectively. A diagnosis of arboviral infection was confirmed for 15 (21·7%) suspected imported cases, with identification of 13 dengue viruses, one chikungunya virus and one Zika virus. No autochthonous cases were detected. This report illustrates the increase in requests for arboviral infection diagnosis and confirms the challenge with identifying autochthonous arboviral infection cases in many unspecific febrile syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology,Montpellier University Hospital-INSERM U1058, Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections-University of Montpellier,Montpellier,France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cadot
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology,Montpellier University Hospital-INSERM U1058, Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections-University of Montpellier,Montpellier,France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Segondy
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology,Montpellier University Hospital-INSERM U1058, Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections-University of Montpellier,Montpellier,France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Foulongne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000330:Aedes / Q000254:growth & development*; D000818:Animals; D001102:Arbovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000071244:Zika Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification
keywords: Arboviruses; Zika virus; chikungunya virus; dengue virus; surveillance