2 research outputs found
Molecular Epidemiology Of Chikungunya Virus In Vellore District, Tamilnadu, India In 2006
Objective: The present study was carried out with the aim of
evaluating the epidemiology of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in Vellore
district and also to identify the most susceptible sex and age group to
CHIKV infection. Methods: About 100 positive blood samples were
collected from various localities Vellore, Katpadi, Thiruvallam,
Sathuvachari and Gudiyatham in Vellore district and analysed. The total
RNA was isolated from these infected blood samples and transcribed into
its cDNA. The E1 gene of CHIKV was amplified and subsequently
sequenced. A Phylogenetic analysis was carried out with the resultant
sequence. Also the RNA secondary structure and restriction sites in the
E1 gene of CHIKV were predicted using the softwares Genebee and
NEBCutter, respectively. A survey on the outbreak of Chikungunya fever
in and around Vellore district was carried out with the aim of
identifying the most susceptible sex and age group to Chikungunya viral
infection. Results: The results of the present study based on the
phylogenetic analysis and BLAST studies revealed that the E1 gene
sequence of CHIKV under investigation showed 87% similarity with that
of the sequence of the CHIKV strain AR18211. Conclusion: This study
has thus revealed that the major strain responsible for the outbreak of
Chikungunya fever in Vellore district was "AR18211" strain, an African
genotype. Also the survey on CHIKV fever revealed the most susceptible
age group to be between 20-40 years and the infection to be predominant
among the male population