Abstract
Re-emergence of chikungunya virus in South India after a gap of 32 years in 2006 affected over a million people in the Indian subcontinent. We kept a close vigil over the emerging trend of this virus between 2006-2010 with a view to establish the identity of the circulating genotype(s) and to determine the route of virus transmission in different parts of India. Nucleotide sequencing of the E1 gene region from 36 strains of chikungunya virus from three states in northern India was performed for this present study. Forty-four previously reported E1 sequences, retrieved from the global genome data base were used for making a phylogenetic tree. BLAST search revealed 99% homology of the northern Indian strains of the 2006-2010 outbreak with the Reunion Island isolates of 2006. Northern Indian strains of this study clustered with the East Central South African (ECSA) genotype. Findings indicate that the currently circulating strain of chikungunya virus in northern India had its origin from the 2006 epidemic strain of South India that moved toward northern India via the western central India between 2006-2010 in a phased manner with dominance of the ECSA genotype and not the Asian genotype.
Highlights
Re-emergence of chikungunya virus in South India after a gap of 32 years in 2006 affected over a million people in the Indian subcontinent
In the present study, out of 90 clinical samples, samples were found positive for Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of E1 gene region
India is endemic for many arboviral infections which emerged in different parts of the world as a result of increased human and mosquito population, urbanization, global changes in human activities and ecology [21]
Summary
Re-emergence of chikungunya virus in South India after a gap of 32 years in 2006 affected over a million people in the Indian subcontinent. Methodology: Nucleotide sequencing of the E1 gene region from 36 strains of chikungunya virus from three states in northern India was performed for this present study. Northern Indian strains of this study clustered with the East Central South African (ECSA) genotype. CHIKV infection is notably characterized by fever, fatigue, headache, rash, nausea, vomiting, myalgia and debilitating arthralgia. This is followed by constitutional symptoms that include maculopapular rash on the trunk and limbs. Symptoms are generally self-limiting and can last from one to ten days, arthralgia or arthritic symptoms may persist for many months afterward [3]
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
