| Chikungunya Virus - the Animal Connection |
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| Chikungunya virus particles: The virus is an Alphavirus of the family Togaviridae (http://www.topnews.in/health/files/Chikv.jpg) |
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| The Chikungunya virus which has been spreading through the Caribbean is primarily a clinical disease of humans, spread by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. It is believed to have emerged around 1952 in Tanzania, making the jump from chimpanzees to humans1. Subsequently, transmission became human to human via the mosquito vector. There is some evidence that non-human primates, rodents and some wild birds could potentially harbour the virus3.
Animal owners however can rest easy that their pets, livestock, horses etc. will not be at risk of illness.
Animal models, partcularly involving mice and non-human primates have been used to study the pathogenesis of the disease and in ongoing efforts to develop a vaccine2. There is currently no vaccine available and preventive measures are heavily based on vector control to limit transmission.
For more information on the Chikungunya Virus, please click the links to the left for fact sheets from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States.
References:
1. Chikungunya Virus Questions & Answers: http://www.webmd.com/news/20140617/chikungunya-virus-questions-answers
2. Chikungunya Virus and Prospects for a Vaccine: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/774865_7
3. Chikungunya : http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs327/en/
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CDC Factsheet for Health Professionals |
CDC Factsheet for the General Public |
| Chikungunya does NOT affect dogs or other animals |
| It appears that a significant number of Jamaicans are curious as to whether or not dogs are coming down with the Chikungunya virus - "affectionately" called ChikV. It is only natural that such curiosity should surface given the unprecendented epidemic in the human population and the fact that mosquitoes bite dogs too, spreading heartworm disease in the process.
The good news is that it has never been documented that dogs become ill from ChikV even if it happens to be passed to them by mosquitoes. This virus appears to be very specific for humans, since it made the "species jump" from non-human primates (apes or monkeys) in the 1950's in Tanzania. It follows that any signs of illness seen in dogs during this human epidemic will be related to a range of other illnesses that affect these animals and completely unrelated to ChikV.
Also, persons who suspect their dogs have ChikV might be tempted to give them acetaminophen (Panadol(R), Cetamol(R), Paracetamol(R), Tylenol(R)) for pain. This is a dangerous practice since, although the drug will act in pain relief, more importantly it causes liver damage when given to dogs and cats. While dogs may tolerate and recover from a single dose, this can be fatal for a cat. Repeated dosing can send a dog into fatal liver failure. Therefore, it should never be given to these animals.
The public is advised to consult a veterinarian about illness in their animals and the use of over-the-counter human medications as "first aid" for them.
PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information on ChikV
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