Current priorities in the Zika response

Abstract

SummaryZika virus (ZIKV), a single-stranded RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family, is an arbovirus (viruses transmitted by arthropods) transmitted to humans and non-human primates through the bites of infected female Aedes sp. mosquitoes. Although first isolated in 1947, it only recently emerged as a global threat, present in several countries resulting in a pandemic scenario. ZIKV infections may have severe outcomes, such as neurological impairment, and with the intrinsic ability of inducing microcephaly in fetuses of infected pregnant women, the virus has become a major public health problem. This review discusses some advances in diagnosis; vaccine development and the problems associated with their administration; the importance of the cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses in protecting or worsening the disease; the implications of the recent outbreak caused by the virus in the world; and future prospects for the complete understanding of this disease.

Emerging and Re-emerging Arboviral Diseases as a Global Health Problem

“…Recently, transmission of the virus has also been reported via sexual, neonatal, and blood transfusion. ZIKV infection can be asymptomatic or cause a mild febrile illness characterized by headaches, myalgia, fever, rash, and conjunctivitis [35]. ZIKV was isolated and associated with human disease more than 60 years ago, but remained poorly studied until an association with neurological involvement was observed.…”

“…ZIKV was isolated and associated with human disease more than 60 years ago, but remained poorly studied until an association with neurological involvement was observed. In fact, an increase in the incidence of cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome and microcephaly in neonates was observed in regions with an ongoing ZIKV epidemic [35,36]. The first major outbreak of ZIKV was reported outside Africa in 2007 in Micronesia [37,38], followed by a second major outbreak in French Polynesia in 2013 [39].…”

Perfil epidemiológico e clínico de casos de microcefalia

“…Se trata de una infección transmitida por mosquitos artrópodos, generalmente asintomáticos o con síntomas leves como fiebre, eritema y artralgia, y que presenta un tropismo por el sistema nervioso (4,8) . Otras formas de contaminación además del vector han sido reportadas como la congénita, la sexual y mediante transfusiones de sangre (9,10) . En la mayoría de los casos, la enfermedad es asintomática, pero puede ocurrir con gravedad debido a casos de microcefalia y síndrome de Guillain-Barré asociados con el virus (11) .…”

Mapping innate and adaptive immune function in arbovirus infections

“…A recent review laid out the challenges presented by the recent Zika outbreak across the Americas and elsewhere . Esposito and colleagues offer a comprehensive ‘everything you wanted to know about Zika’, including some key points that have perhaps received insufficient focus thus far.…”

“…A recent review laid out the challenges presented by the recent Zika outbreak across the Americas and elsewhere. 4 Esposito and colleagues offer a comprehensive 'everything you wanted to know about Zika', including some key points that have perhaps received insufficient focus thus far. Zika infection has been associated with enhanced risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) both in the Americas and in the earlier outbreak in Micronesia and French Polynesia, but more work is needed to understand the molecular basis of anti-glycan antibody cross-reactivity.…”