Dried-blood spots: a cost-effective field method for the detection of Chikungunya virus circulation in remote areas.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In 2005, there were outbreaks of febrile polyarthritis due to Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in the Comoros Islands. CHIKV then spread to other islands in the Indian Ocean: La Réunion, Mauritius, Seychelles and Madagascar. These outbreaks revealed the lack of surveillance and preparedness of Madagascar and other countries. Thus, it was decided in 2007 to establish a syndrome-based surveillance network to monitor dengue-like illness.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the use of capillary blood samples blotted on filter papers for molecular diagnosis of CHIKV infection. Venous blood samples can be difficult to obtain and the shipment of serum in appropriate temperature conditions is too costly for most developing countries.

Methodology and principal findings

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SUBMITTER: Andriamandimby SF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3723542 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature