Chikungunya virus

MICROBIOLOGY

• Chikungunya virus (CHKV): single positive-strand RNA arbovirus [Fig. 1] of family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus.
  • A name taken from the East African/Mozambique Makonde language, "that which bends up," is believed to describe contortions due to severe joint pain.
• Human infection is vector-borne, primarily mosquitoes (e.g., Aedes albopictus, Fig. 2).
  • Outbreaks 2005-2006 Réunion Island and Indian Ocean islands may represent a more virulent strain than historically, as complications (meningoencephalitis, multiorgan dysfunction) and death were reported more frequently.
• Human disease, especially arthropathy, is similar to that caused by the alphavirus, Ross River virus.