Open AccessEpidemiologic and clinical investigations during a chikungunya outbreak in Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil
Author(s) -
Joelma D. Monteiro,
Joanna Gardel Valverde,
Ingryd C Morais,
Cássio Ricardo de Medeiros Souza,
João Ciro Fagundes Neto,
Marília F. Melo,
Yasmin M. Nascimento,
Brenda Elen Bizerra Alves,
Leandro Gurgel de Medeiros,
Hannaly Wana Bezerra Pereira,
Anne Aline Pereira de Paiva,
Diego Gomes Teixeira,
Márcia Cristina Bernardo de Melo Moura,
Alessandre de Medeiros Tavares,
José Veríssimo Fernandes,
Selma M. B. Jerônimo,
Josélio M.G. Araújo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0241799
Subject(s) - chikungunya , outbreak , virology , epidemiology , virus , medicine , arbovirus , dengue fever , biology
The first autochthonous case of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection in Brazil was in September 2014 in the State of Amapá, and from there it rapidly spread across the country. The present study was conducted in 2016 in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, and the aims were to describe the epidemiological and the clinical aspects of the CHIKV outbreak. Biological samples from 284 chikungunya suspected cases were screened for CHIKV and Flavivirus (FV) RNA using qRT-PCR. Negative PCR samples were also screened for anti-CHIKV and anti-FVIgM by ELISA. CHIKV RNA were detected in 125 samples mostly occurring from January through March (46%), mainly affecting adults and older adults. We found a gradual decrease in viral RNA over the disease time. Anti-CHIKV IgM was found in 47.5% after negative CHIKV qRT-PCR. Interestingly, 45.0% simultaneously had positive results for CHIKV and FV IgM, suggesting the occurrence of virus co-circulation. The most frequent symptom was fever (91%). Women presented more chance to develop nausea and abdominal pain compared to men. Our data described and allows us to better understand the clinical and epidemiological aspects of the 2016 chikungunya outbreak in Rio Grande do Norte and can help in the early clinical diagnosis of the virus.