title: Zika virus: Future reproductive concerns.
abstract: The pandemic spread of Zika virus (ZIKV), a member of the flavivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family, has become a major public health concern. Reproductive specialists are particularly concerned over the spread of ZIKV as it is now known to have both sexual and transplacental routes of transmission resulting in fetal congenital abnormalities. Other members of the Flaviviridae family, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) (which primarily affects cattle), are well known to reproductive specialists as both sexually transmitted illnesses that are capable of vertical transmission. Congenital infection with BVDV also has a predilection for neuro-teratogenicity as has been seen with ZIKV. HCV and BVDV are also known to be capable of persistent infection in offspring. Could this be the case with ZIKV? Examining what we know about HCV and BVDV, in addition to what we have already learned about ZIKV, may answer some of the questions that remain about ZIKV. Herein, we review the current literature as it pertains to ZIKV vertical transmission and neuro-teratogenicity and compare it to what is known about HCV and BVDV.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Jeanne S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sheffield
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Burd
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001908:Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D009417:Nerve Tissue / Q000821:virology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000821:virology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012098:Reproduction; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; D064793:Teratogenesis; D000071244:Zika Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Zika virus; congenital infection; viral persistence