Abstract
BackgroundSaliva and urine have been used for arthropod-borne viruses molecular detection but not yet for chikungunya virus (CHIKV). We investigated the use of saliva and urine for molecular detection of CHIKV during the French Polynesian outbreak.MethodsDuring the French Polynesian chikungunya outbreak (2014–2015), we collected the same day blood and saliva samples from 60 patients with probable chikungunya (47 during the 1st week post symptoms onset and 13 after), urine was available for 39 of them. All samples were tested using a CHIKV reverse-transcription PCR.ResultsForty eight patients had confirmed chikungunya. For confirmed chikungunya presenting during the 1st week post symptoms onset, CHIKV RNA was detected from 86.1 % (31/36) of blood, 58.3 % (21/36) of saliva and 8.3 % (2/24) of urine. Detection rate of CHIKV RNA was significantly higher in blood compared to saliva. For confirmed chikungunya presenting after the 1st week post symptoms onset, CHIKV RNA was detected from 8.3 % (1/12) of blood, 8.3 % (1/12) of saliva and 0 % (0/8) of urine.ConclusionsIn contrast to Zika virus (ZIKV), saliva did not increased the detection rate of CHIKV RNA during the 1st week post symptoms onset. In contrast to ZIKV, dengue virus and West Nile virus, urine did not enlarged the window of detection of CHIKV RNA after the 1st week post symptoms onset. Saliva can be used for molecular detection of CHIKV during the 1st week post symptoms onset only if blood is impossible to collect but with a lower sensitivity compared to blood.
Highlights
Saliva and urine have been used for arthropod-borne viruses molecular detection but not yet for chikungunya virus (CHIKV)
Sixty patients were included in the study, of them 48 had confirmed chikungunya (36 presenting during the 1st week post symptoms onset (PSO) and 12 after), 32 infections have been confirmed by detection of CHIKV RNA and 16 by detection of specific Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies against CHIKV (Table 1)
For confirmed chikungunya presenting during the 1st week PSO, CHIKV RNA was detected from 86.1 % (31/ 36) of blood, 58.3 % (21/36) of saliva and 8.3 % (2/24) of urine
Summary
Saliva and urine have been used for arthropod-borne viruses molecular detection but not yet for chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Zika virus (ZIKV) (arbovirus of the genus Flavivirus), emerged in FP in 2013 causing an outbreak from October 2013 to April 2014 [3, 4]. The ability to detect ZIKV was higher in saliva compared to blood at the acute phase of the illness. This protocol was of particular interest when blood was difficult to collect, especially for children and neonates. For ZIKV [9,10,11], DENV [12, 13] or West Nile virus (WNV) [14, 15], the use of urine for molecular diagnosis can enlarge the window of detection of these arboviruses
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
