Whole genomes of Chandipura virus isolates and comparative analysis with other rhabdoviruses.

The Chandipura virus (CHPV) belonging to the Vesiculovirus genus and Rhabdoviridae family, has recently been associated with a number of encephalitis epidemics, with high mortality in children, in different parts of India. No full length genome sequences of CHPV isolates were available in GenBank and little is known about the molecular markers for pathogenesis. In the present study, we provide the complete genomic sequences of four isolates from epidemics during 2003-2007.

Chandipura virus encephalitis outbreak among children in Nagpur division, Maharashtra, 2007.

Background & Objectives: An outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) among children from Nagpur division, Maharashtra was investigated to confirm the aetiology and to describe clinico-epidemiological features.

Methods: AES cases among children<15 yr, from Nagpur division, hospitalized between June-September 2007, were investigated. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were tested for IgM antibodies against Chandipura virus (CHPV) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and for CHPV RNA by RT-PCR.

Genetic divergence of Chikungunya viruses in India (1963-2006) with special reference to the 2005-2006 explosive epidemic.

Re-emergence of Chikungunya (CHIK), caused by CHIK virus, was recorded in India during 2005-2006 after a gap of 32 years, causing 1.3 million cases in 13 states. Several islands of the Indian Ocean reported similar outbreaks in the same period.