From the Guidelines
Zika virus (Zika) is a flavivirus transmitted by Aedes spp mosquitos, causing serious birth defects, including microcephaly, and can also be transmitted through unprotected sex.
Key Characteristics of Zika Virus
- Transmission: Primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, but also through unprotected sex with an infected partner 1
- Health Effects: Can cause fetal brain abnormalities and other serious birth defects if infection occurs during pregnancy 1
- Diagnostic Tests: Include nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for viral RNA, serologic evaluation for IgM antibodies to the virus, and PRNTs (plaque reduction neutralization tests) for detection of neutralizing antibodies to arboviruses 1
- Prevention: Men with possible Zika virus exposure who are planning to conceive with their partner should wait at least 3 months after symptom onset or their last possible Zika virus exposure before engaging in unprotected sex 1
Important Considerations
- Pregnant Women: Should be evaluated using a serologic assay for antibodies to the virus if NAAT results are negative, as viremia or viruria may have passed by the time the specimen was collected 1
- False-Positive Results: May occur in patients with a prior or current infection with a closely related flavivirus, including WNV or DENV, and confirmatory PRNTs should be performed for all samples reactive by an anti-ZIKV IgM serologic assay 1
From the Research
Definition and Transmission of Zika Virus
- Zika virus (Zika) is a mosquitoborne flavivirus that is transmitted to humans by mosquito vectors, primarily Aedes aegypti 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- It can also be transmitted through sexual contact, nonsexual body fluids, and perinatally 6.
Characteristics and Effects of Zika Virus
- Zika virus infections are often characterized by subclinical or mild influenza-like illness, but severe manifestations have been described, including Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults and microcephaly in babies born to infected mothers 2, 4, 6.
- The virus has a unique ability to use the host machinery to promote viral replication in a tissue-specific manner, resulting in characteristic pathological disorders 3.
- Zika virus has developed mechanisms to evade the host immune response, allowing the establishment of viral persistence and enhancing viral pathogenesis 3.
Public Health Concerns and Research
- The emergence of Zika virus in Brazil in 2015 and its rapid spread throughout the Americas has raised serious public health concerns, particularly regarding the potential devastating consequences during pregnancy 2, 4, 5, 6.
- Despite growing knowledge about the virus, questions remain regarding its vectors and reservoirs, pathogenesis, genetic diversity, and potential synergistic effects of co-infection with other circulating viruses 2.
- Research is ongoing to optimize surveillance, patient management, and public health intervention in the current Zika virus epidemic, including the development of diagnostic tests, vaccines, and treatments 4, 6.