Mayaro virus: the jungle flu

Abstract

Abstract:Mayaro fever is an emerging acute viral disease endemic in Central and South America. Mayaro virus (MAYV) is classified in the Semliki Forest virus antigenic complex and shares similarities with the alphavirus Chikungunya virus and the flavivirus Dengue virus. MAYV is an arbovirus transmitted by Haemagogus janthinomys, with competence also demonstrated in Aedes aegypti, Aedes scapularis, and Anopheles quadrimaculatus. Outbreaks and small epidemics of Mayaro fever have occurred in several countries in northern South America and the Caribbean. In addition, travel-associated cases have been reported in European nationals returning from endemic areas. Clinical features of Mayaro fever include fever, chills, persistent arthralgia, retro-orbital pain, maculopapular rash, itching, dizziness, and, rarely, lymphadenopathy. Methods of control for MAYV are similar to those used for other sylvatic arboviruses. Although MAYV was discovered as long ago as the 1950s and continues to be prevalent in the tropical areas of the Americas, it remains neglected and under-studied. This paper provides a thorough and current review of the published MAYV literature ranging from its original description to modern outbreaks, and from the basic virus characteristics to the clinical and epidemiological aspects of this disease.

Mayaro Virus Pathogenesis and Transmission Mechanisms

“…Although mortality among infected people is low as yet, Mayaro fever may become a major public health problem, particularly in rural areas, with increasing prevalence in the Amazon region due to ecosystem changes [10]. Although several outbreaks of Mayaro fever have already been reported more than three decades ago in Northern Brazil [11], MAYV is now spreading rapidly to other regions in Latin America [12]. It is likely that the global burden of Mayaro fever is still largely underestimated because of the lack of adequate and accurate diagnostics.…”

The Emergence of Chikungunya ECSA Lineage in a Mayaro Endemic Region on the Southern Border of the Amazon Forest

“…Chikungunya virus and MAYV circulate between an invertebrate vector and a vertebrate host [13], involving non-human primates and arboreal Aedes (for CHIKV) and Haemagogus janthinomys (for MAYV) mosquitoes [24,25]. Both the Asian/Caribbean and the ECSA lineages of CHIKV can circulate in urban cycles between humans and their main vectors Aedes aegypti and Ae.…”

“…The high prevalence of Ae. aegypti in the urban environment in Brazil and other South American countries where Mayaro fever is endemic suggests that an urban cycle could be established [25]. Based on the vector species' habitat suitability and current knowledge about these viruses' distribution, it is possible that both alphaviruses spread and co-circulate, causing human outbreaks [30].…”

Mayaro Virus Infects Human Chondrocytes and Induces the Expression of Arthritis-Related Genes Associated with Joint Degradation

“…Mayaro virus (MAYV) is a little-known emerging mosquito-borne virus of the Togaviridae family which include Chikungunya (CHIKV), Ross River (RRV), Sindbis and Una viruses. The virus was first isolated in Trinidad and Tobago in 1954 from the serum of febrile forest patients [1]. MAYV is phylogenetically related to the Semliki forest antigenic complex and is transmitted by Haemagogus mosquitoes belonging to the Aedes species, including aegypti, albopictus and scapularis [2].…”

“…Mayaro fever has recently become an important public health problem in Brazil after several cases of this disease were reported in the region [5]. There have also been recent reports of Mayaro fever in other areas of South America and Central America [1]. Its recent appearance in the Caribbean (Haïti) and the increase of imported cases from South America to other parts of the world indicate that MAYV may be extending its reach.…”