Utilizing phylogenetic analysis to understand Zika virus dissemination in Ecuador

Phylogenetic analysis is an indispensable tool for public health, especially in developing countries. By utilizing this method, developing countries can bolster surveillance efforts, and accelerate outbreak responses. The Zika virus outbreak in the Americas, including Ecuador, underscored the threat of an often underestimated pathogen. For years, the virus's dangers were largely overlooked, but the emergence of neurological complications in newborns and immune disorders like Guillain-Barré Syndrome demonstrated its potential global impact. This study aims to explore the dissemination patterns of the 2015 Zika outbreak in the Americas, with a particular focus on its effects in Ecuador.

Methods: We utilized 24 representative sequences from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas, including two from Ecuador, for phylogenetic and lineage analysis. Additionally, using virus transmission and vector distribution maps, we determined the origin and distribution of outbreaks as well as associated risk factors.

Results: Phylogenetic and lineage analysis revealed that Ecuadorian sequences were closely related to other American sequences, forming a homogeneous group distinct from African, Asian, and Pacific island sequences. The findings indicated that the probable origin of the Zika virus spread to Ecuador was from Asia via Brazil, which appears to be the key point for the dissemination of the Zika virus throughout the Americas, including Ecuador.