Chikungunya virus

Paul Auwaerter, M.D.
Chikungunya virus is a topic covered in the Johns Hopkins ABX Guide.

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MICROBIOLOGY

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

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MICROBIOLOGY

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

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Last updated: September 27, 2019