Zika virus in Brazil and macular atrophy in a child with microcephaly

Abstract

reflex loss. A well defined macular neuroretinal atrophy was detected in one child (fi gure). To our knowledge, this is the fi rst report of ocular fi ndings in infants with microcephaly born after the ZIKV outbreak. All three children had fundoscopic alterations in the macular region. Although ZIKV infection was not tested by real-time PCR, cases fulfi l criteria for ZIKV vertical infection. Further studies are being conducted in a larger group of infants to assess the ocular manifestations of ZIKV vertical infection.

Encephalitic Arboviruses: Emergence, Clinical Presentation, and Neuropathogenesis

“…Clinical symptoms, when present, are similar to a flu-like illness with fever, maculopapular rash, nonpurulent conjunctivitis, fatigue, and arthralgia, and last approximately 1 week [73]. However, since 2007, an increase in cases of microcephaly, retinal lesions, and GBS associated with ZIKV infection has been reported, especially in Latin America [27,[74][75][76]. ZIKV-associated GBS is a pure motor axonal variant.…”

Interim Guidelines for the Evaluation and Testing of Infants with Possible Congenital Zika Virus Infection — United States, 2016

“…During the current outbreak in Brazil, Zika virus RNA has been identified in specimens (i.e., brain tissue, placenta, and amniotic fluid) from several infants with microcephaly and from fetal losses in women infected with Zika virus during pregnancy (6,8,9). The Brazil Ministry of Health has reported a marked increase from previous years in the number of infants born with microcephaly and intracranial calcifications in 2015, although it is not known how many of these cases are associated with Zika virus infection (6,(8)(9)(10)(11).…”

“…The mother should also be tested for a Zika virus infection, if this testing has not already been performed during pregnancy. An ophthalmologic evaluation, including retinal examination, should occur during the first month of life, given reports of abnormal eye findings in infants with possible congenital Zika virus infection (11).…”

One year after the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil: from hypotheses to evidence

“…In addition to microcephaly, other anomalies began to be identified, including arthrogryposis, other musculoskeletal malformations (48) , and hearing and visual disorders (55) . These may be related to the time of the infection, reinforcing the need to expand the investigation and broaden the spectrum as a syndrome associated with congenital ZIKV infection or simply congenital ZIKV following the example of other congenital infections (10) .…”