Evidence for Transmission of Zika Virus by Platelet Transfusion

Abstract

Correspondence n engl j med 375;11 nejm.org September 15, 2016 excluded for right-sided pulmonary-vein diameters greater than 26 mm. In the trial, 98.9% of all pulmonary veins were isolated at the index procedure in the cryoballoon group, as compared with 97.9% in the radiofrequency group. In the cryoballoon group, 100% of the left common pulmonary veins (28 of 28) and 92% of the right middle pulmonary veins (12 of 13) were isolated at the index procedure. In the radiofrequency group, 77% of the left common pulmonary veins (30 of 39) and 48% of the right middle pulmonary veins (11 of 23) were isolated at the index ablation.Currently, prescreening of pulmonary-vein anatomical features is not required. More important, the cryoballoon group has shown significantly fewer reinterventions and rehospitalizations than the radiofrequency group, 3 and these patient-relevant disease-burden characteristics should be considered when making the decision about what type of catheter ablation should be performed.

Long-term kinetics of Zika virus RNA and antibodies in body fluids of a vasectomized traveller returning from Martinique: a case report

“…A risk of transmission of ZIKV by blood-donors as well as platelet donors has been reported recently [24]. It appears reasonable to suggest that blood donors need to be screened for potential exposure to ZIKV, and individuals fulfilling criteria of potential exposure (such as travelling in ZIKV endemic countries or having had sexual contact to a person that has travelled to ZIKV endemic countries within the past six months) should have a whole blood sample tested directly by PCR as well as indirectly by serological testing prior to donation.…”

Zika Virus Pathogenesis and Tissue Tropism

“…In another human-to-human transmission case, ZIKV was acquired from a hospitalized patient via an unknown, non-sexual route through presumed contact with other infected body fluids ( e.g., tears or saliva), which contain infectious virus as well as non-infectious viral nucleic acids (Dudley et al, 2016; Miner et al, 2016b; Sun et al, 2016; Swaminathan et al, 2016). Additionally, ZIKV has been transmitted by blood and platelet transfusion (Barjas-Castro et al, 2016; Motta et al, 2016). Although more study is warranted, the unique ability of ZIKV, relative to other flaviviruses, to spread between humans through non-insect vector routes may reflect one of several factors including its possible enhanced stability in body fluids or its broad cell and tissue tropism (Figure 1).…”

Lineage-dependent differences in the disease progression of Zika virus infection in type-I interferon receptor knockout (A129) mice

“…While several reports demonstrate sexual transmission of ZIKV [19] and blood/platelet transfusion [20], the main route of infection is via mosquito bites. Ideally, in vivo models should be developed which closely mirror natural infection.…”