Emerging alphaviruses in the Americas: Chikungunya and Mayaro

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Mario Luis Garcia de Figueiredo, Luiz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2014
• Subjects: Emerging alphaviruses; Chikungunya fever; Mayaro fever; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0246-2014; https://doaj.org/article/188e8e1053ce4e09bf64ffbef18f807e

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Mayaro virus (MAYV) are emergent arthropod-borne viruses that produce outbreaks of acute febrile illness with arthropathy. Despite their different continental origins, CHIKV and MAYV are closely related and are components of the Semliki Forest Complex of the Alphavirus (Togaviridae). MAYV and, more recently, CHIKV, which are both transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, have resulted in severe public health problems in the Americas, including Brazil. In this review, we present aspects of the pathogenesis, clinical presentation and treatment of febrile illnesses produced by CHIKV and MAYV. We also discuss the epidemiological aspects and effects related to the prophylaxis of infections by both viruses.