Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Feb 10:47:e34.
doi: 10.26633/RPSP.2023.34. eCollection 2023.

Dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus infections in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review

Letícia L M Santos  1 , Erika Carvalho de Aquino  2 , Suleimy Marinho Fernandes  3 , Yves Mauro F Ternes  2 , Valéria C de R Feres  1
Affiliations
Review

Dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus infections in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review

Letícia L M Santos et al. Rev Panam Salud Publica. .

Abstract
in English, Spanish, Portuguese

Objectives: To characterize the distribution profile of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus infections in Latin America and the Caribbean and to identify possible factors associated with the risk of dissemination and severity of these arboviruses.

Methods: The protocol of this review was registered on the PROSPERO platform. Searches were carried out in the following databases: Virtual Health Library, MEDLINE/PubMed, and Embase. The search terms were: Zika virus, Zika virus infection, dengue, dengue virus, chikungunya virus, chikungunya fever, epidemiology, observational study, Latin America, and Caribbean region. Studies that addressed the distribution of these arboviruses and the risk factors associated with dengue, Zika virus disease, and chikungunya, published between January 2000 and August 2020 in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, were included.

Results: Of 95 studies included, 70 identified risk factors, clinical manifestations, and outcomes for arbovirus infections and 25 described complications and/or deaths. The highest frequency of confirmed cases was for dengue. Brazil reported most cases of the three arboviruses in the period analyzed. Environmental and socioeconomic factors facilitated the proliferation and adaptation of vectors, and host-related factors were reported to aggravate dengue. Most deaths were due to chikungunya, Zika virus disease caused most neurological alterations, and dengue resulted in greater morbidity leading to more frequent hospitalization.

Conclusions: The review provides a broad view of the three arboviruses and the intrinsic aspects of infections, and highlights the factors that influence the spread of these viruses in the populations studied.

Objetivos: Caracterizar el perfil de distribución de infecciones por dengue, chikungunya y el virus de Zika en América Latina y el Caribe, y determinar posibles factores relacionados con el riesgo de propagación y gravedad de estas arbovirosis.

Métodos: Se registró el protocolo de esta revisión en la plataforma PROSPERO. Se realizaron búsquedas en las siguientes bases de datos: Virtual Health Library, MEDLINE/PubMed y Embase. Los términos de búsqueda fueron: “zika virus” [virus del Zika], “zika virus infection” [infección por el virus del Zika], “dengue”, “dengue virus” [virus del dengue], “chikungunya virus” [virus del chikunguña], “chikungunya fever” [fiebre de chikunguña], “epidemiology” [epidemiología], “observational study” [estudio observacional], “Latin America” [América Latina] y “Caribbean región” [Caribe]. Se incluyeron estudios que abordaban la distribución de estas arbovirosis y los factores de riesgo asociados con el dengue, la enfermedad por el virus del Zika y el chikunguña, publicados entre enero del 2000 y agosto del 2020 en español, inglés y portugués.

Resultados: De los 95 estudios incluidos, 70 establecieron factores de riesgo, manifestaciones clínicas y resultados de las infecciones por arbovirus y 25 describieron complicaciones o muertes. La mayor frecuencia de casos confirmados fue del dengue. Brasil notificó la mayoría de los casos de infección por los tres arbovirus en el período analizado. Los factores ambientales y socioeconómicos facilitaron la proliferación y adaptación de los vectores, y se notificó que los factores relacionados con el huésped agravaban el dengue. El chikunguña causó la mayor parte de las muertes, la enfermedad por el virus del Zika causó la mayor parte de las alteraciones neurológicas y el dengue fue responsable de una mayor morbilidad, lo que llevó a una hospitalización más frecuente.

Conclusiones: Esta revisión ofrece un panorama de las tres arbovirosis y de los aspectos intrínsecos de las infecciones, y pone de relieve los factores que influyen en la propagación de estos virus en las poblaciones estudiadas.

Objetivos: Descrever a distribuição das arboviroses causadas pelo vírus da dengue, zika e chikungunya na América Latina e no Caribe e identificar possíveis fatores associados ao potencial de disseminação e à gravidade dessas infecções.

Métodos: O protocolo desta revisão sistemática foi registado na plataforma PROSPERO. Foram realizadas buscas nas bases de dados Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, MEDLINE/PubMed e Embase. Os termos de busca foram: vírus zika, infecção pelo vírus zika, dengue, vírus da dengue, vírus chikungunya, febre chikungunya, epidemiologia, estudo observacional, América Latina e região do Caribe. Foram selecionados estudos publicados em inglês, português e espanhol, entre janeiro de 2000 e agosto de 2020, que tratavam da distribuição desses arbovírus e de fatores de risco associados à dengue, à infecção pelo vírus zika e à febre chikungunya.

Resultados: Dos 95 estudos selecionados, 70 descreveram fatores de risco, manifestações clínicas e desfechos das arboviroses e 25 destacaram as complicações e/ou mortes. Houve uma maior taxa de casos confirmados de dengue. O Brasil foi o país onde se registrou a maioria dos casos dessas três arboviroses no período analisado. Fatores ambientais e socioeconômicos facilitaram a proliferação e a adaptação dos vetores dos arbovírus e fatores próprios do hospedeiro são determinantes na gravidade da dengue. As mortes ocorreram principalmente nos casos de febre chikungunya, as manifestações neurológicas foram mais comuns na infecção pelo vírus zika e a dengue resultou em maior morbidade e internação hospitalar.

Conclusões: Esta revisão sistemática oferece um panorama destas três arboviroses e de suas peculiaridades destacando os fatores que influenciam a disseminação destes arbovírus nas populações estudadas.

Keywords: Arboviruses; Caribbean; Latin America; arbovirus infections; risk factors; systematic review.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.. Flowchart of screening of studies
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Leta S, Beyene TJ, De Clercq EM, Amenu K, Kraemer MU, Revie CW. Global risk mapping for major diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Int J Infect Dis. 2018;67:25–35. - PMC - PubMed
    2. Leta S, Beyene TJ, De Clercq EM, Amenu K, Kraemer MU, Revie CW. Global risk mapping for major diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Int J Infect Dis. 2018;67:25–35. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Torres JR, Orduna TA, Piña-Pozas M, Vázquez-Vega D, Sarti E. Epidemiological Characteristics of Dengue Disease in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic Review of the Literature. J Trop Med. 2017;2017:1–18. - PMC - PubMed
    2. Torres JR, Orduna TA, Piña-Pozas M, Vázquez-Vega D, Sarti E. Epidemiological Characteristics of Dengue Disease in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic Review of the Literature. J Trop Med. 2017;2017:1–18 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Organização Pan-Americana de Saúde Dengue nas Américas atinge o maior número de casos já registrado. 2020. [Accessed on 25 Nov 2021]. Available from: https://www.paho.org/pt/noticias/13-11-2019-dengue-nas-americas-atinge-m....
    2. Organização Pan-Americana de Saúde, 2020. Dengue nas Américas atinge o maior número de casos já registrado. Available from: https://www.paho.org/pt/noticias/13-11-2019-dengue-nas-americas-atinge-m.... Accessed on 25 Nov 2021.
    1. Peña-García VH, McCracken MK, Christofferson RC. Examining the potential for south American arboviruses to spread beyond the New World. Curr Clin Microbiol Rep. 2017;4(4):208–217. - PMC - PubMed
    2. Peña-García VH, McCracken MK, Christofferson RC. Examining the potential for south American arboviruses to spread beyond the New World. Curr Clin Microbiol Rep. 2017;4(4):208–17. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Donalisio MR, Freitas ARR, Zuben APBV. Arboviroses emergentes no Brasil: desafios para a clínica e implicações para a saúde pública. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51:30. - PMC - PubMed
    2. Donalisio MR, Freitas ARR, Zuben APBV. Arboviroses emergentes no Brasil: desafios para a clínica e implicações para a saúde pública. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51:30. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources