CHIKUNGUNYA AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
What Is Chikungunya?
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in the family Togaviridae. The virus has now been identified in over 110 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Transmission often persists in countries where large parts of the population have not yet been infected.
CHIKVs are spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus) mosquitoes. These mosquitoes also act as vectors of dengue, yellow fever, and Zika viruses.
Chikungunya
Sign and Symptoms
In symptomatic patients, disease onset is typically 4-8 days (ranging from 2 to 12 days) after the bite of an infected mosquito. A sudden onset of fever is often accompanied by severe joint pain, which usually lasts for a few days, but it can last for weeks, months or even years. Other common signs and symptoms include swollen joints, muscle aches, headaches, nausea, fatigue, and rash.
The symptoms are usually mild, and an infected person may not even recognize the infection. Most patients recover fully from the infection and are likely to be immune. However, occasional cases of eye, heart, and neurological complications have been reported with CHIKV infections. Older patients are at higher risk for serious disease. Newborns infected during childbirth, and older adults with underlying diseases may become seriously ill, and in those cases CHIKV infection can increase the risk of death.
The symptoms are usually mild, and an infected person may not even recognize the infection. Most patients recover fully from the infection and are likely to be immune. However, occasional cases of eye, heart, and neurological complications have been reported with CHIKV infections. Older patients are at higher risk for serious disease. Newborns infected during childbirth, and older adults with underlying diseases may become seriously ill, and in those cases CHIKV infection can increase the risk of death.
Chikungunya
Diagnostics
Chikungunya symptoms partially overlap with symptoms caused by other viral infections, including those by dengue and Zika, hence misdiagnosis may happen in the absence of significant joint pain. Therefore, distinguishable and accurate diagnostic testing is crucial for the effective management of mosquito-borne diseases.
Chikungunya virus may be detected directly in blood samples collected during the first week of illness using tests such as reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Other tests can detect a person’s immune response to Chikungunya infection. These test for antibodies to the virus, and are typically used after the first week of infection. Antibody levels typically become detectable by the first week after illness onset, and can still be detected for about two months.
Chikungunya
Rapid Test
The K-Chikungunya Ag Rapid Test is a rapid qualitative test kit based on lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay. It is used for detecting the chikungunya viral antigen of Chikungunya viruses in serum samples from patients with suspected chikungunya infection. The test kit is intended to be used for professional in vitro diagnostic use only.
First the anti-Chikungunya antibody gold conjugate binds to a Chikungunya antigen in the sample, and then the resultant complex is captured on the strip by a band of bound antibody, forming a visible line at the “T” mark (test line) in the results window. A control line (C) also forms, indicating the integrity of the antibody-dye conjugate, but that alone does not confirm the ability to detect viral antigen.
Chikungunya
How To Use
- Negative result: the presence of only the control line (C)
Interpretation: no Chikungunya viral antigens are detected, or the concentration of viral antigen in the sample lower than 1 ng/ml (LOD).
- Positive result: the presence of two colored lines, the test line (T), and the control line (C)
Interpretation: Chikungunya viral antigens are detected.
- Invalid: no presence of the control line, caused by various reasons
Chikungunya
Provided Material
- Individually foil-pouched test cassettes with a desiccant (30 packs)
- Assay buffer (1 bottle)
- Sample dropper (30 pieces)
- Instructions for use
