Short report: Introduction of chikungunya virus ECSA genotype into the Brazilian Midwest and its dispersion through the Americas

by Elaine Cristina de Oliveira, Vagner Fonseca, Joilson Xavier, Talita Adelino, Ingra Morales Claro, Allison Fabri, Eduardo Marques Macario, Ana Elisa Viniski, Claudio Luis Campos Souza, Evanil Sebastiana Gomes da Costa, Claudia Soares de Sousa, Fl ávia Guimarães Dias Duarte, Arnaldo Correia de Medeiros, Carlos F. Campelo de Albuquerque, Rivaldo Venancio Cunha, Noely Fabiana Oliveira De Moura, Ana Maria Bispo de Filippis, Tulio de Oliveira, José Lourenço, André Luiz de Abreu, Luiz Carlos Junior Alcantara, Marta Giovanetti Since introduction into Brazil in 2014, chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has presented sustained transmission, although much is unknown about its circulation in the midwestern states. Here, we analyze 24 novel partial and near complete CHIKV genomes from Cuiaba, an urban metropolis located in the Brazili an midwestern state of Mato Grosso (MT). Nanopore technology was used for sequencing CHIKV complete genomes. Phylogenetic and epidemiological approaches were used to explore the recent spatio-temporal evolution and spread of the CHIKV-ECSA genotype in Midwest Brazil as well as in the Americas. Epide miological data revealed a reduction in the number of reported cases over 2018–2020, likely as a consequence of a gradual accumulation of herd-immunity. Phylogeographic reconstructions revealed that at least two independent introductions of the ECSA lineage occurred in MT from a dispersion event o riginating in the northeastern region and suggest that the midwes...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Source Type: research