Coinfection with chikungunya and Zika results in mild disease and distinct inflammatory response
Juliana Cardoso Alves, Lucas Sousa Magalhães, Priscila Lima dos Santos, Regina Adalva de Lucena Couto Ócea, Alejandra Debbo, Jaira Vanessa de Carvalho, Mauro Martins Teixeira, Suresh Mahalingam, Amélia Ribeiro de Jesus, Ângela Maria da Silva, Roque Pacheco de Almeida, Camilla Natália Oliveira Santos
Abstract
Chikungunya (CHIKV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses, both mosquito-borne, often circulate simultaneously, raising concerns about the effects of coinfection. This study evaluated cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in 12 patients with concurrent CHIKV and ZIKV infections confirmed by RT-qPCR. Clinical data and 45 immune mediators were analyzed. Coinfected and monoinfected patients exhibited similar symptoms, although ZIKV-infected individuals experienced fewer instances of fever. No patients had persistent symptoms or required hospitalization. Chemokines CCL5, CXCL1, and CXCL10 were elevated across all groups. CHIKV-infected patients showed higher levels of CCL2, CCL4, EGF, CXCL12, and IFN-α compared to controls, while IL-1RA, IL-8, and IFN-γ were elevated in both CHIKV and coinfected groups. SCF was elevated only in the ZIKV group. Overall, CHIKV and ZIKV coinfection presented mild clinical symptoms similar to monoinfections and demonstrated a moderate inflammatory response.