Genetic analysis of chikungunya viruses imported to mainland China in 2008.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has caused large outbreaks worldwide in recent years, especially on the islands of the Indian Ocean and India. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti), which are widespread in China, with an especially high population density in southern China. Analyses of full-length viral sequences revealed the acquisition of a single adaptive mutation providing a selective advantage for the transmission of CHIKV by this species. No outbreaks due to the local transmission of CHIKV have been reported in China, and no cases of importation were detected on mainland China before 2008. We followed the spread of imported CHIKV in southern China and analyzed the genetic character of the detected viruses to evaluate their potential for evolution.

Res

SUBMITTER: Zheng K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2831882 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature