Cross-sectional Serosurvey of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus IgG in Livestock, India, 2013-2014.

We conducted a cross-sectional serosurvey of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) among livestock in 22 states and 1 union territory of India. A total of 5,636 samples from bovines, sheep, and goats were screened for CCHF virus IgG. IgG was detected in 354 samples, indicating that this virus is widespread in this country.

Systemic involvements and fatalities during Chikungunya epidemic in India, 2006.

BACKGROUND: In addition to classical manifestations of Chikungunya infection, severe infections requiring hospitalization were reported during outbreaks in India in 2006. OBJECTIVES: To describe the systemic syndromes and risk groups of severe Chikungunya infections. STUDY DESIGN: We prospectively investigated suspected Chikungunya cases hospitalized in Ahmedabad, Gujarat during September-October 2006, and retrospectively investigated laboratory-confirmed Chikungunya cases hospitalized with neurologic syndromes in Pune, Maharashtra. Hospital records were reviewed for demographic, comorbidity, clinical and laboratory information. Sera and/or cerebrospinal fluid were screened by one or more methods, including virus-specific IgM antibodies, viral RNA and virus isolation. RESULTS: Among 90 laboratory-confirmed Chikungunya cases hospitalized in Ahmedabad, classical Chikungunya was noted in 25 cases and severe Chikungunya was noted in 65 cases, including non-neurologic (25) and neurologic (40) manifestations. Non-neurologic systemic syndromes in the 65 severe Chikungunya cases included renal (45), hepatic (23), respiratory (21), cardiac (10), and hematologic manifestations (8). Males (50) and those aged >or=60 years (50) were commonly affected with severe Chikungunya, and age >or=60 years represented a significant risk. Comorbidities were seen in 21 cases with multiple comorbidities in 7 cases. Among 18 deaths, 14 were males, 15 were aged >or=60 years and 5 had comorbidities. In Pune, 59 laboratory-confirmed Chikungunya cases with neurologic syndromes were investigated. Neurologic syndromes in 99 cases from Ahmedabad and Pune included encephalitis (57), encephalopathy (42), and myelopathy (14) or myeloneuropathy (12). CONCLUSIONS: Chikungunya infection can cause systemic complications and probably deaths, especially in elderly adults.

Chandipura virus: a major cause of acute encephalitis in children in North Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, India.

A hospital-based surveillance was undertaken between May 2005 and April 2006 to elucidate the contribution of Chandipura virus (CHPV) to acute viral encephalitis cases in children, seroconversion in recovered cases and to compare the seroprevalences of anti-CHPV IgM and N antibodies in areas reporting cases with those without any case of acute viral encephalitis. During this period, 90 cases of acute encephalitis were hospitalized in the pediatric wards of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Hospital, Warangal. There were 49 deaths (Case Fatality Rate, i.e., CFR of 54.4%). Clinical samples and records were obtained from 52 suspected cases. The cases were below 15 years, majority in 0-4 years (35/52, 67.3%). Computerized tomography (CT) scans and cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) picture favored viral etiology. No neurological sequelae were observed. CHPV etiology was detected in 25 cases (48.1%, n = 52; RNA in 20, IgM in 3 and N antibody seroconversion in 2). JEV etiology was detected in 5 cases (IgM in 4 cases and seroconversion in 1 case). Anti-CHPV IgM seroprevalence in contacts (26/167, 15.6%) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in non-contacts (11/430, 2.6%); which was also observed in children <15 years (19/90, 21.1% vs. 3/109, 2.7%). Anti-CHPV N antibody seroprevalence in <15 years contacts (66/90, 73.3%) and non-contacts (77/109, 70.6%) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than in contacts (75/77, 97.4%) and non-contacts (302/321, 94.1%) more than 15 years respectively. CHPV appears to be the major cause of acute viral encephalitis in children in endemic areas during early monsoon months.

Optic neuritis associated with chikungunya virus infection in South India.

OBJECTIVE: To define optic neuritis associated with chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection in a clinical setting. METHODS: This observational case series includes 14 patients with clinical features of CHIKV infection and associated optic neuritis. Complete ophthalmic evaluations were performed, as well as other examinations, including Mantoux test, Widal test, blood profile, color vision, neuroimaging, visual fields, visual evoked potentials, VDRL test, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for CHIKV-specific immunoglobulin. Relevant clinical findings of optic neuritis associated with seropositive CHIKV infection were recorded. RESULTS: Nineteen eyes (in 14 patients) had optic nerve involvement. The mean +/- SD patient age was 45.8 +/- 15.6 years. Eight eyes (42%) had papillitis, 4 eyes (21%) had retrobulbar neuritis, 4 eyes (21%) had retrochiasmal (optic tract) neuritis, and 3 eyes (16%) had neuroretinitis. Parenteral corticosteroids were administered in all patients. Color vision, visual fields, and best-corrected visual acuity of 6/12 (or 20/40 Snellen visual acuity) or better improved statistically significantly by the end of 3 weeks (P < .001). Partial to complete recovery of visual function was seen in 10 patients (71%). Four patients had a poor visual outcome; 3 of them were initially seen 1 month after onset of ocular symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Acute-onset visual loss due to optic neuritis may be associated with CHIKV infection. Visual recovery is good. Corticosteroids accelerated recovery when initiated at an early stage of the disease.

Chikungunya outbreaks caused by African genotype, India.

Chikungunya fever is reported in India after 32 years. Immunoglobulin M antibodies and virus isolation confirmed the cause. Phylogenic analysis based on partial sequences of NS4 and E1 genes showed that all earlier isolates (1963-1973) were Asian genotype, whereas the current and Yawat (2000) isolates were African genotype.