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Microbiology · RNA arboviruses

Chikungunya virus !

  • Virus
  • Enveloped
  • Exam priority: high

A virus spread by Aedes mosquitoes that causes sudden fever with very severe joint pain; in some people the pain lasts months or years.

Updated 2026-11-01

Also called: CHIKV

At a glance

Shape
Spherical, icosahedral capsid
Genome
Single-stranded, positive-sense RNA
Envelope
Enveloped
Family
Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus
Size
About 60 to 70 nm

Morphology

  • Envelope with glycoproteins E1 and E2
  • A single serotype; several genetic lineages

Transmission

  • Bite of female Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, by day
  • Vertical spread is possible when the mother is viraemic near delivery

Reservoir: Humans during urban epidemics; Non-human primates in African sylvatic cycles

Vector: Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus

Isolation precautions

What the care team adds to standard precautions.

  • Standard

Virulence factors

  • Replicates in fibroblasts, macrophages, synovial and muscle tissue
  • Persistent viral antigen and joint inflammation sustain chronic arthralgia
  • High viraemia in the acute phase, which fuels explosive outbreaks

Diseases it causes

Clinical picture

  • Incubation 4 to 8 days; abrupt fever
  • Symmetric, disabling polyarthralgia of hands, wrists and ankles, sometimes with swelling
  • Rash, myalgia, headache, fatigue
  • Chronic arthralgia or arthritis for weeks, months or years
  • Higher risk of severe disease in newborns and older adults with comorbidities

Diagnosis

  • RT-PCR on blood during the first week
  • IgM and IgG after the first week
  • Marked lymphopenia as a lab clue
  • Differential diagnosis with dengue and Zika, which co-circulate

Treatment

There is no antiviral: rest, fluids and paracetamol. NSAIDs are kept for the subacute or chronic phase once dengue is ruled out; chronic arthritis may be managed with anti-inflammatories and, in selected cases, disease-modifying drugs.

Drug class only; doses and regimens are set by the clinician from the current guideline.

In Pharmacology:

Prevention

  • Breeding-site control and bite protection, as for dengue
  • Vaccines are approved in some countries but still in limited use

Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

Which symptom separates chikungunya from dengue in the acute phase?

Severe, disabling symmetric polyarthralgia, sometimes with joint swelling.

To which family and genus does chikungunya virus belong?

Family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus.

Which sequel is typical of chikungunya?

Chronic arthralgia or arthritis, which can last months or even years.

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Educational content on microorganisms; not a treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: Chikungunya (World Health Organization (WHO), 2025); Appendix A: Type and Duration of Precautions Recommended for Selected Infections and Conditions (CDC, 2024).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.