A 30-year-old traveler returns from Kerala with high fever, headache and a maculopapular rash. Fever settles in five days, but he continues to have incapacitating symmetrical joint pain involving wrists and ankles that persists for three months. The causative agent belongs to which taxonomic group?
- A Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae
- B Alphavirus, family Togaviridae ✓
- C Orthobunyavirus, family Peribunyaviridae
- D Phlebovirus, family Phenuiviridae
Correct answer: B. Alphavirus, family Togaviridae
Explanation
Chikungunya virus is an alphavirus of the family Togaviridae, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, and its hallmark compared with dengue is severe, often persistent arthralgia or arthritis that can last months to years. Dengue, a flavivirus, typically produces myalgia and retro-orbital pain rather than prolonged disabling arthritis, which distinguishes the key distractor. Sandfly-borne phleboviruses cause sandfly fever, and orthobunyaviruses such as California encephalitis virus present as encephalitis.
Reference: Ananthanarayan and Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 12th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.