A 28-year-old from Rajasthan with recent Aedes aegypti-endemic area exposure develops fever, severe joint pain (arthralgia), and a maculopapular rash on day 3. RT-PCR is positive for Chikungunya virus. Which statement about Chikungunya is CORRECT?
- A Chikungunya causes haemorrhagic fever with shock syndrome similar to dengue (thrombocytopenia and plasma leakage)
- B Chikungunya is transmitted by Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito, not Aedes
- C IgM antibodies for Chikungunya appear only after 3 weeks and are not useful for acute diagnosis
- D Chikungunya virus is an alphavirus (Togaviridae family) — arthralgia is typically severe, debilitating, and may persist for months to years (chronic chikungunya arthritis) ✓
Explanation
Chikungunya virus is an RNA alphavirus (family Togaviridae) transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Its hallmark is severe, symmetrical polyarthralgia/arthritis (chikungunya means 'to bend up' in the Makonde language) affecting small joints of hands, wrists, ankles; this can persist for months to years as chronic inflammatory arthritis, distinguishing it from dengue. Dengue (flavivirus) causes haemorrhagic fever and plasma leakage; chikungunya does not. Chikungunya IgM appears from day 3–5 of illness and is detectable during the acute phase, making IgM ELISA useful for acute diagnosis after viraemia wanes.
Reference: Ananthanarayan & Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 11th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.