@article{fdi:010075302,
  title = {{V}iral exploration of negative acute febrile cases observed during chikungunya outbreaks in {G}abon},
  author = {{T}chetgna, {H}. {S}. and {O}uilibona, {R}. {S}. and {N}kili-{M}eyong, {A}. {A}. and {C}aron, {M}. and {L}abouba, {I}. and {S}elekon, {B}. and {N}jouom, {R}. and {L}eroy, {E}ric and {N}akoune, {E}. and {B}erthet, {N}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{N}on-malarial febrile illness outbreaks were documented in 2007 and 2010 in {G}abon. {A}fter investigation, these outbreaks were attributed to the chikungunya and dengue viruses ({CHIKV} and {DENV}). {H}owever, for more than half of the samples analyzed, the causative agent was not identified. {G}iven the geographical and ecological position of {G}abon, where there is a great animal and microbial diversity, the circulation of other emerging viruses was suspected in these samples lacking aetiology. {A} total of 436 undiagnosed samples, collected between 2007 and 2013, and originating from 14 urban, suburban, and rural {G}abonese locations were selected. {T}hese samples were used for viral isolation on newborn mice and {VERO} cells. {I}n samples with signs of viral replication, cell supernatants and brain suspensions were used to extract nucleic acids and perform real-time {RT}-{PCR} targeting specific arboviruses, i.e., {CHIKV}, {DENV}, yellow fever, {R}ift {V}alley fever, and {W}est {N}ile and {Z}ika viruses. {V}irus isolation was conclusive for 43 samples either on newborn mice or by cell culture. {V}irus identification by {RT}-{PCR} led to the identification of {CHIKV} in 37 isolates. {A} total of 18 complete genomes and 19 partial sequences containing the {E}2 and {E}1 genes of {CHIKV} were sequenced using next-generation sequencing technology or the {S}anger method. {P}hylogenetic analysis of the complete genomes showed that all the sequences belong to the {E}ast {C}entral {S}outh {A}frica lineage. {F}urthermore, we identified 2 distinct clusters. {T}he first cluster was made up of sequences from the western part of {G}abon, whereas the second cluster was made up of sequences from the southern regions, reflecting the way {CHIKV} spread across the country following its initial introduction in 2007. {S}imilar results were obtained when analyzing the {CHIKV} genes of the {E}2 and {E}1 structural proteins. {M}oreover, study of the mutations found in the {E}2 and {E}1 structural proteins revealed the presence of several mutations that facilitate the adaptation to the {A}edes albopictus mosquito, such as {E}2 {I}211{T} and {E}1 {A}226{V}, in all the {G}abonese {CHIKV} strains. {F}inally, sequencing of 6 additional viral isolates failed to lead to any conclusive identification.},
  keywords = {{G}abon ; {V}irus isolation ; {E}merging viruses ; {N}ext-generation sequencing ; {C}hikungunya virus ; {GABON}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}ntervirology},
  volume = {61},
  numero = {4},
  pages = {174--184},
  ISSN = {0300-5526},
  year = {2018},
  DOI = {10.1159/000495136},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010075302},
}