Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) has initiated a study on "Genomic structure, virulence, and molecular and structural characterisation" of the recent outbreak of chickengunya (CHIK) in South India.
A paper published on the subject by the CCMB scientists, headed by Sailendra K Saxena, and comprised Niraj Mishra and Ira Bhatnagar, after a detailed analysis, stated that "The epidemiology of this outbreak presents a complex interplay of climatic, entomologic, human behavioural, viral and host factors". The paper further said "These factors are not completely understood. We intend to conduct studies to understand the same in every detail. The unique molecular features of recently analysed Indian Ocean isolates of CHIK suggest that the virus can evolve rapidly." This required a detailed study. Hence the "new study," the scientists observed.
Emerging infectious diseases proved to be a major scourge to the human resources of the nation. A recent example was the outbreak of the CHIK viral fever in most parts of the Southern India. The scientists found that an earlier outbreak of the disease was recorded in Barsi, Sholapur district of Maharashtra State. Subsequently, no active or passive surveillance was carried out in India because of the belief that the disease was eradicated in the subcontinent.
The CCMB scientists collected a large number of samples of patients with high fever (ranging between 38.5 degree- 40 degree C) muscle pain, headache and swelling and sever pain in the joints with polyarthralgia (pain in several joints) followed by an itching maculopapular rash five days after onset.
"When analyzed by employing reverse transcription-samples collected between the first and fourth day of infection, half of the samples were found positive for the presence of CHIK specific Ribonucleic acid (RNA). One significant observation in the recent CHIK infection was the previously unreported occurrence of severe thrombocytopenia (reduced platelet count) and neutropenia (abnormally low number of neutrophil granulocytes, a type of white blood cells) in a few patients," the scientist concluded.
While saying that warm, humid climates and water reservoirs served as an excellent breeding ground the Aedes mosquitoes (vector of the virus), the scientists pointed that "Females were more affected than males during the recent outbreak of the disease". It was a feature probably associated with the daytime and indoor feeding habits of the mosquito vector in India.