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Molecular aspects of Chikungunya virus infections in cancer patients
Débora Familiar-Macedo1, Bianca Ervatti Gama1, Vanessa Erichsen Emmel1
1Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Centro de Transplante de Medula Óssea, Laboratório de Oncovirologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Background:
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arbovirus that can cause chronic and debilitating manifestations. The first autochthonous case in Rio de Janeiro state was diagnosed in 2015, and an outbreak was declared in 2016.
Objective:
The aim of this work was to evaluate CHIKV viral load in serum, plasma and urine in cancer patients to determine the best sample for diagnosis, as well as perform molecular characterisation and phylogenetic analysis of circulating strains.
Methods:
Paired serum, plasma and urine collected from 31 cancer patients were tested by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and a segment of the CHIKV E1 gene was sequenced.
Findings:
We detected 11 CHIKV+ oncological patients. Paired samples analyses of nine patients showed a different pattern of detection. Also, a higher viral load in plasma (6.84 log10) and serum (6.07 log10) vs urine (3.76 log10) was found. Phylogenetic analysis and molecular characterisation revealed East/Central/Southern Africa (ECSA) genotype circulation and three amino acids substitutions (E1-K211T, E1-M269V, E1-T288I) in positive patients.
Main Conclusion:
The results indicate the bioequivalence of serum and plasma for CHIKV diagnosis, with urine being an important complement. ECSA genotype was circulating among patients in the period of the 2016 outbreak with K211T, M269V and T288I substitution.
Insights
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) diagnosis is best achieved using serum or plasma, with urine as a complementary sample. The East/Central/Southern Africa (ECSA) genotype of CHIKV circulated in Rio de Janeiro during the 2016 outbreak.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Medical Entomology
- Genetics
Background:
- Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) causes chronic illness.
- Rio de Janeiro reported its first indigenous case in 2015 and an outbreak in 2016.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate CHIKV viral load in serum, plasma, and urine of cancer patients.
- Determine optimal sample type for CHIKV diagnosis.
- Characterize and perform phylogenetic analysis of circulating CHIKV strains.
Main Methods:
- Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to test paired serum, plasma, and urine samples from 31 cancer patients.
- A segment of the CHIKV E1 gene was sequenced for molecular and phylogenetic analysis.
Main Results:
- CHIKV was detected in 11 cancer patients.
- Plasma and serum showed higher viral loads (6.84 log10 and 6.07 log10) than urine (3.76 log10).
- Phylogenetic analysis identified the ECSA genotype with three amino acid substitutions (E1-K211T, E1-M269V, E1-T288I).
Conclusions:
- Serum and plasma are bioequivalent for CHIKV diagnosis.
- Urine serves as a valuable complementary diagnostic sample.
- The ECSA genotype circulated during the 2016 outbreak, featuring specific amino acid substitutions.
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