BACKGROUND Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arbovirus that can cause chronic and debilitating manifestations. The first autochthonous case in Rio de Janeiro state was diagnosed in 2015, and an outbreak was declared in 2016. OBJECTIVE The aim of this work was to evaluate CHIKV viral load in serum, plasma and urine in cancer patients to determine the best sample for diagnosis, as well as perform molecular characterisation and phylogenetic analysis of circulating strains. METHODS Paired serum, plasma and urine collected from 31 cancer patients were tested by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and a segment of the CHIKV E1 gene was sequenced. FINDINGS We detected 11 CHIKV+ oncological patients. Paired samples analyses of nine patients showed a different pattern of detection. Also, a higher viral load in plasma (6.84 log10) and serum (6.07 log10) vs urine (3.76 log10) was found. Phylogenetic analysis and molecular characterisation revealed East/Central/Southern Africa (ECSA) genotype circulation and three amino acids substitutions (E1-K211T, E1-M269V, E1-T288I) in positive patients. MAIN CONCLUSION The results indicate the bioequivalence of serum and plasma for CHIKV diagnosis, with urine being an important complement. ECSA genotype was circulating among patients in the period of the 2016 outbreak with K211T, M269V and T288I substitution.

Difilobotriose é causada em humanos pela infecção com vermes adultos do gênero Diphyllobothrium adquiridos pelo consumo de peixe cru ou mal cozido. Diphyllobothrium latum foi confirmado pelo exame dos proglotes grávidos e típicos ovos operculados nas fezes. O paciente havia comido crustáceos e peixes. É o relato do primeiro brasileiro infectado.

Diphyllobothriasis is caused in humans by infection with adult tapeworms of the genus Diphyllobothrium acquired by consuming raw or undercooked freshwater fish. Diphyllobothrium latum was confirmed by examination of the gravid proglottids and typical operculated eggs in the stool. The patient had a history of eating crustaceans and fish. This is the case report of the first Brazilian infected.