Zika and pregnancy: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is a well-nurtured topic for healthcare personnel nowadays.Central nervous system involvement including microcephaly and ocular involvements has already been reported in neonates of affected pregnant ladies. In this article, we have discussed these effects on the newborns of ZIKV-infected mothers. The proposed pathogenesis, modes of transmission of this infection from mothers to the fetuses, diagnosis of the cases and precaution for the pregnant ladies have also been discussed. We have gathered the recently available data on the risk of ZIKV for expectant mothers from PubMed, https://www.gov.uk/guidance/zika-virus as well as from centers for disease control and prevention websites. K E Y W O R D Sfetal anomaly, microcephaly, pregnancy, Zika virus infection

Congenital Zika syndrome and neuroimaging findings

“…In that article, nine children were examined and the main imaging aspects were as follows: microcephaly; occipital protuberance with excessive scalp skin; reduced volume of the cerebral parenchyma, with gyral simplification; ventriculomegaly; parenchymal calcifications, predominantly located at the cortico-subcortical junction, agenesis/dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, and changes in the posterior fossa, such as cerebellar and pontine hypoplasia. Those aspects are consistent and corroborate findings reported in the literature (1,10-18) .…”

“…The manifestations of intrauterine ZIKV infection are more severe when they occur in the first or second trimesters of gestation, ranging from various congenital abnormalities-redundant skin on the scalp and neck (cutis gyrata), low birth weight, polyhydramnios, anasarca, arthrogryposis, and hearing loss, as well as ocular and CNS malformations-to fetal death (1,2,10-18) .…”

Paper‐based point‐of‐care testing for cost‐effective diagnosis of acute flavivirus infections

“…Detecting viral Non Structural glycoprotein 1 (NS1) in the blood of patients represents an alternative path in the early diagnosis of flaviviruses. The assay can also be useful for epidemiological surveillance …”

“…The assay can also be useful for epidemiological surveillance. [5][6][7] NS1, a secreted viral glycoprotein produced by infected cells, is synthesized as a monomer and is dimerized rapidly after post-translational modifications in the endoplasmic reticulum. Dimers are transported to the cell surface and associate as hexamers that accumulate in large amounts in the extracellular medium.…”

What We Can Find Beyond the Classic Neuroimaging Findings of Congenital Zika Virus Syndrome?

“…Intrauterine ZIKV infection signs are more severe when they appear in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, primarily in the first trimester, and range from fetal death to numerous congenital abnormalities, including redundant skin on the scalp and neck (cutis gy-rata), low birth weight, polyhydramnios, anasarca, arthrogryposis (contracture of 2 or more joints since birth), hearing loss, and ocular and CNS malformations with craniofacial disproportion [3,[12][13][14][15][16]. Among congenital manifestations, microcephaly associated with ZIKV infection has had the greatest impact.…”