Zika virus damages the human placental barrier and presents marked fetal neurotropism
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
111(5): 287-293, May 2016. graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-782050
ABSTRACT
An unusually high incidence of microcephaly in newborns has recently been observed in Brazil. There is a temporal association between the increase in cases of microcephaly and the Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic. Viral RNA has been detected in amniotic fluid samples, placental tissues and newborn and fetal brain tissues. However, much remains to be determined concerning the association between ZIKV infection and fetal malformations. In this study, we provide evidence of the transplacental transmission of ZIKV through the detection of viral proteins and viral RNA in placental tissue samples from expectant mothers infected at different stages of gestation. We observed chronic placentitis (TORCH type) with viral protein detection by immunohistochemistry in Hofbauer cells and some histiocytes in the intervillous spaces. We also demonstrated the neurotropism of the virus via the detection of viral proteins in glial cells and in some endothelial cells and the observation of scattered foci of microcalcifications in the brain tissues. Lesions were mainly located in the white matter. ZIKV RNA was also detected in these tissues by real-time-polymerase chain reaction. We believe that these findings will contribute to the body of knowledge of the mechanisms of ZIKV transmission, interactions between the virus and host cells and viral tropism.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
/
Viral Tropism
/
Zika Virus
/
Zika Virus Infection
/
Microcephaly
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Infant, Newborn
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2016
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná/BR
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