Imported zika virus infection from the cook islands into australia, 2014

Alyssa T Pyke; Michelle T Daly; Jane N Cameron; Peter R Moore; Carmel T Taylor; Glen R Hewitson; Jan L Humphreys; Richard Gair

doi:10.1371/currents.outbreaks.4635a54dbffba2156fb2fd76dc49f65e

Imported zika virus infection from the cook islands into australia, 2014

PLoS Curr. 2014 Jun 2:6:ecurrents.outbreaks.4635a54dbffba2156fb2fd76dc49f65e. doi: 10.1371/currents.outbreaks.4635a54dbffba2156fb2fd76dc49f65e.

Authors

Alyssa T Pyke¹, Michelle T Daly², Jane N Cameron¹, Peter R Moore¹, Carmel T Taylor¹, Glen R Hewitson¹, Jan L Humphreys², Richard Gair³

Affiliations

¹ Forensic and Scientific Services, Coopers Plains, Queensland, Australia.
² Tropical Public Health, Townsville, Australia.
³ Tropical Public Health, Cairns, Australia.

PMID: 24944843
PMCID: PMC4055592
DOI: 10.1371/currents.outbreaks.4635a54dbffba2156fb2fd76dc49f65e

Abstract

A female resident of Townsville, Queensland, Australia has been diagnosed with Zika virus infection following a recent trip to the Cook Islands. An initial serum sample collected in March, 2014 was positive by two separate Zika virus TaqMan real-time RT-PCRs and a pan-Flavivirus RT-PCR. Nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetics of the complete Cook Islands Zika virus envelope gene revealed 99.1% homology with a previous Cambodia 2010 sequence within the Asian lineage. In addition, IgG and IgM antibody seroconversions were detected between paired acute and convalescent phase sera using recombinant Zika virus serology assays. This is the first known imported case of Zika virus infection into northern Queensland where the potential mosquito vector Aedes aegypti is present and only the second such reported case diagnosed within Australia.

Keywords: arbovirus; infectious disease.

Grants and funding

This study was funded by Queensland Health. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.