Serologic Evidence of Zoonotic Alphaviruses in Humans from an Indigenous Community in the Peruvian Amazon.

Jocelyn G Pérez,Jorge L Maguiña,Gregorio Mentaberre,Andrés G Lescano,Emmanuel Serrano,Pedro Mayor,Yaneth Pittí,Jean-Paul Carrera,Anayansi Valderrama

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.18-0850

Abstract

Alphaviruses (Togaviridae, Alphavirus) are arthropod-borne single-stranded RNA pathogens that cause febrile and neurologic disease in much of Latin America. However, many features of Alphavirus epidemiology remain unknown. In 2011, we undertook a cross-sectional study in Nueva Esperanza, an indigenous community in the Peruvian Amazon. Here, we present the first serologic evidence of Mayaro (MAYV), Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) complex alphavirus, Una (UNAV), and Madariaga (MADV) viruses reported in humans (24%, 16%, 13%, and 1.5%, respectively) from an Amazonian indigenous community in Peru. Hunting activity and cohabiting with hunters were the main risk factors for Mayaro seroconversion, but only hunting was associated with UNAV seropositivity. Our results suggest that alphavirus infection in this region is common, but we highlight the high UNAV seroprevalence found and corroborate the low MADV prevalence reported in this region. Furthermore, MAYV-neutralizing antibodies were also detected in stored samples from wild animals (18%) hunted by Nueva Esperanza inhabitants and another mestizo community located close to Iquitos. Further serological surveys of VEE complex alphaviruses, UNAV, and MADV in wild animals and assessing the ability of the MAYV seropositive species to transmit the virus will be relevant.

Highlights

Arthropod-borne zoonotic alphaviruses (Togaviridae, Alphavirus) are positive-sense single-strand RNA viruses that are recognized as an important cause of acute febrile illness in humans in Latin America
In the Peruvian Amazon, Mayaro virus (MAYV) accounts for nearly 1% of outpatient evaluations for febrile disease,[1] and cases have been reported in Latin American countries as well as in travelers returning from the Amazon Basin.[2,3]
Human samples were first tested by plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNT) against MAYV, Madariaga virus (MADV), and Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) complex alphavirus.[15,16]

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Arthropod-borne zoonotic alphaviruses (Togaviridae, Alphavirus) are positive-sense single-strand RNA viruses that are recognized as an important cause of acute febrile illness in humans in Latin America. Despite the enzootic circulation and intensive surveillance, only few seropositive individuals and no neurologic disease or fatal cases have been reported.[6] encephalitis cases and mild or asymptomatic cases mostly affecting children have been attributed to MADV recently in Venezuela, Haiti, and Panama.[7,8,9,10] Una virus (UNAV) has been isolated from mosquitos of the Peruvian Amazon, it has been rarely associated with human disease.[11,12] its distribution and the human disease risk in this region remain unknown These alphaviruses are a well-recognized cause of human disease in the Americas, prior research studies were only carried out in the peri-urban area of Iquitos. The lack of surveillance studies in indigenous communities and the identification of potential wildlife hosts in the Amazon highlight the importance of

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

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DISCUSSION