Journal Article

Retrospective Study of Arbovirus Circulation in Northeast Brazil in 2019 and 2022: Insights into the Re-Emergence of DENV-3 and the Co-Infection of DENV-1 and CHIKV

Pinheiro, Valéria Cristina Soares, Sousa, Sêmilly Suélen da Silva, Cereja, Glennda Juscely Galvão Pereira, Nunes, Bruno Tardelli Diniz, Amorim, Murilo Tavares, Aragão, Carine Fortes, Silva, Sandro Patroca da, Sousa, Raira Maria Morais de, Cruz, Ana Cecília Ribeiro, da Silva, Eliana Vieira Pinto

2025

Overview

Arboviruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti cause high number of cases and deaths annually. The aim was to investigate the presence of the presence of Dengue (DENV), Zika (ZIKV) and Chikungunya (CHIKV) viruses in endemic areas of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. The study was carried out in Caxias, Codó, Peritoró, and São Mateus do Maranhão in 2019 (Caxias) and 2022. The blood samples were subjected to RNA extraction and then tested by RT-qPCR. Cell culture was used to attempt viral isolation and subsequent sequencing. In total, 171 samples were analyzed (32 from 2019, 18.7%) and 72 (42.1%) were found to have arboviruses: 68 (39.7%) from Caxias; 2 (1.1%) from Codó; 1 (0.6%) from Peritoró; and 1 (0.6%) from São Mateus. Overall, 85.3% (n = 58) of the positive samples were infected with DENV-1, 4 (four) (5.9%) with DENV-2 (Caxias), 1 (one) (1.5%) with DENV-3 (Caxias), and in 6 (six) (7.3%) samples CHIKV was detected, with one co-infection of DENV-1 and CHIKV (Caxias). The DENV-1 genotype V and the ECSA genotype of CHIKV were characterized in samples from Caxias. The detection of DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and more CHIKV in the interior of Maranhão alerts to the importance of virological studies in these areas.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Aedes - virology / Animals / Arbovirus Infections - epidemiology / Arbovirus Infections - virology / arboviruses / Arboviruses - classification / Arboviruses - genetics / Arboviruses - isolation & purification / Brazil - epidemiology / Cell culture / chikungunya / Chikungunya Fever - epidemiology / Chikungunya Fever - virology / Chikungunya virus / Chikungunya virus - genetics / Chikungunya virus - isolation & purification / Child / coinfection / Coinfection - epidemiology / Coinfection - virology / Comorbidity / COVID-19 / dengue / Dengue - epidemiology / Dengue - virology / Dengue fever / Dengue Virus - classification / Dengue Virus - genetics / Dengue Virus - isolation & purification / Dengue viruses / Diagnosis / Disease transmission / Distribution / Epidemics / Fatalities / Female / Genetic aspects / Genotype & phenotype / Genotypes / Humans / Identification and classification / Infections / Laboratories / Male / Middle Aged / Molecular biology / molecular surveillance / Municipalities / Pandemics / Patient safety / Phylogeny / Public health / Retrospective Studies / RNA, Viral / Vector-borne diseases / Young Adult / Zika virus / Zika Virus - genetics / Zika Virus - isolation & purification / Zika Virus Infection - epidemiology / Zika Virus Infection - virology