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A RETROSPECTIVE OVERVIEW OF ZIKA VIRUS EVOLUTION IN THE MIDWEST OF BRAZIL
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Abstract
Since the introduction of the Zika virus (ZIKV) into Brazil in 2015, its transmission
dynamics have been intensively studied in many parts of the country, although
much is still unknown about its circulation in the midwestern states. Here, using nanopore
technology, we obtained 23 novel partial and near-complete ZIKV genomes from
the state of Goiás, located in the Midwest of Brazil. Genomic, phylogenetic, and epidemiological
approaches were used to retrospectively explore the spatiotemporal evolution
of the ZIKV-Asian genotype in this region. As a likely consequence of a gradual
accumulation of herd immunity, epidemiological data revealed a decline in the number
of reported cases over 2018 to 2021. Phylogenetic reconstructions revealed that multiple
independent introductions of the Asian lineage have occurred in Goiás over time and
revealed a complex transmission dynamic between epidemic seasons. Together, our
results highlight the utility of genomic, epidemiological, and evolutionary methods to
understand mosquito-borne epidemics.
IMPORTANCE Despite the considerable morbidity and mortality of arboviral infections
in Brazil, such as Zika, chikungunya, dengue fever, and yellow fever, our understanding
of these outbreaks is hampered by the limited availability of genomic data to track and
control the epidemic. In this study, we provide a retrospective reconstruction of the
Zika virus transmission dynamics in the state of Goiás by analyzing genomic data from
areas in Midwest Brazil not covered by other previous studies. Our study provides an
understanding of how ZIKV initiates transmission in this region and reveals a complex
transmission dynamic between epidemic seasons. Together, our results highlight the
utility of genomic, epidemiological, and evolutionary methods to understand mosquitoborne
epidemics, revealing how this toolkit can be used to help policymakers prioritize
areas to be targeted, especially in the context of finite public health resources.
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