title: Zika virus and pregnancy: An overview.
abstract: In May 2015, the first episodes of Zika virus infection of the Latin America were confirmed in Brazil, where currently 196 976 cases were reported. The main route of transmission occurs by Aedes mosquitoes, and the most common symptoms are maculopapular rash, fever, conjunctivitis, polyarthralgia, and periarticular edema. However, the infection is asymptomatic in 80% of the cases. The congenital infection is characterized when the transmission to the fetus occurs during pregnancy, but the mechanisms of how the virus infects the placenta remain unclear. Anatomopathological findings were described in first- and third-trimester human placentas; however, the major affected tissue of the baby is the neural. Several clinical situations were listed in these fetuses, such as neurological, ophthalmological, auditory, and articular alterations. The World Health Organization proposed a new congenital syndrome caused by Zika virus. The virus has an important neurotropism and the main manifestation observed in the syndrome is microcephaly, which is usually severe and associated with other neurological injuries. The appearance of sudden rash in pregnant women determines immediate investigation through RT-PCR and serological analysis. Moreover, the prevention consists in using repellents and avoiding endemic areas, considering that the vaccine is still under development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Infectious Diseases in Gynecology and Obstetrics Sector, Clinics Hospital, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Newton Sérgio
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7561-4566
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Beatriz Freitas
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dóris
authors.affiliation: Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Evellyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silverio Biscaia
authors.affiliation: Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cyllian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arias Fugaça
authors.affiliation: Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lúcia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Noronha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008831:Microcephaly / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D056189:Viral Tropism; D014944:World Health Organization; D000071244:Zika Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Zika virus; congenital malformations; microcephaly; obstetrician; pregnancy