First report case with negative genetic study (array CGH, exome sequencing) in patients with vertical transmission of Zika virus infection and associated brain abnormalities.

INTRODUCTION: Zika virus (ZIKV) is a little-known emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus. The perinatal ZIKV infection was associated with birth defects during the Brazilian outbreak. There was an increased risk of intrauterine transmission of the virus and a marked increase in the number of newborns with microcephaly. We report on two such cases. CASE REPORT: The first case was a 25-year-old pregnant woman from Colombia who became acutely ill with general symptoms during the tenth week of gestation, followed by severe generalized itching and maculopapular rash for approximately five days. This case was reported during the epidemic stage of the ZIKV infection in Colombia. At 23.3 gestational weeks, ultrasonography showed abnormal intracranial anatomy with cerebral ventriculomegaly, microcephaly, and parenchymal calcification. Given the grave prognosis, the patient elected to terminate the pregnancy at 25 gestational weeks. The second case was a 24-year-old pregnant woman who became acutely ill during the 17th week of gestation, which corresponded with the ZIKV epidemic in Colombia. At 30.5 gestational weeks, ultrasonography showed isolated fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly. We detected ZIKV in the amniotic fluid; however, the virus was not detected in the urine or serum of the mother or fetus. Tests for dengue virus, chikungunya virus, Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, HIV, hepatitis B and C, and parvovirus B19 were all negative. Different samples obtained from the placenta, amniotic liquid, and cerebrospinal fluid were positive for viral isolation of ZIKV RNA using TaqMan RT-PCR. Additionally, the parents and fetuses were tested for genetic diseases using whole exome sequencing and array CGH to rule out possible genetic syndromes that produce these congenital abnormalities. CONCLUSION: These were the first cases in Colombia to show early vertical transmission of ZIKV and the first cases associated with congenital cerebral abnormalities in which molecular, infectious, and genomic tests were performed.

Microcephaly in Colombia before the Zika outbreak: A systematic literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Microcephaly is characterized by a smaller than normal head circumference. Recently, Zika virus (ZV) has been associated with microcephaly. OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of microcephaly in Colombia taking as the baseline the information from the period before the Zika virus infection epidemics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed Medline, Scopus, Scielo, Lilacs and annual reports of congenital malformation monitoring systems across Latin America, among others sources, for articles published before April, 2015, reporting the prevalence of microcephaly in Colombia between 1982 and 2013. RESULTS: We identified 32 non-duplicate articles; we selected 25 articles for revision of which 12 met the criteria for inclusion in the systematic review, including 2,808,308 births. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of microcephaly in Colombia from 1982 to 2013, before the introduction of ZV, ranged from 0.3 to 3.1 per 10,000 births, with an average of 1.8 (95% CI 1.7-1.8) per 10,000 births. These findings are important to determine if the prevalence after the introduction of the Zika virus infection registered significant changes.

Microcephaly in Colombia before the Zika outbreak: A systematic literature review / Microcefalia en Colombia antes de la epidemia del Zika: revisión sistemática de la literatura

Introduction: Microcephaly is characterized by a smaller than normal head circumference. Recently, Zika virus (ZV) has been associated with microcephaly. Objective: To describe the prevalence of microcephaly in Colombia taking as the baseline the information from the period before the Zika virus infection epidemics. Materials and methods: We reviewed Medline, Scopus, Scielo, Lilacs and annual reports of congenital malformation monitoring systems across Latin America, among others sources, for articles published before April, 2015, reporting the prevalence of microcephaly in Colombia between 1982 and 2013. Results: We identified 32 non-duplicate articles; we selected 25 articles for revision of which 12 met the criteria for inclusion in the systematic review, including 2,808,308 births. Conclusions: The prevalence of microcephaly in Colombia from 1982 to 2013, before the introduction of ZV, ranged from 0.3 to 3.1 per 10,000 births, with an average of 1.8 (95% CI 1.7-1.8) per 10,000 births. These findings are important to determine if the prevalence after the introduction of the Zika virus infection registered significant changes.

Introducción. La microcefalia consiste en una circunferencia cefálica menor de la esperada. Recientemente, el virus del Zika se ha asociado con esta condición. Objetivo. Describir la prevalencia de la microcefalia en Colombia, estableciendo como línea de base el periodo anterior a la epidemia del virus del Zika. Materiales y métodos. Se revisaron las bases de datos Medline, Scopus, Scielo, Lilacs y el reporte anual de malformaciones congénitas en Latinoamérica, así como otras fuentes publicadas antes de abril de 2015 con los datos de prevalencia de la microcefalia en Colombia entre 1982 y 2013. Resultados. Se detectaron 32 artículos no duplicados, se revisaron 25 y se seleccionaron 12 que cumplían con los criterios de inclusión para la revisión sistemática, los cuales registraban 2'808.308 nacimientos. Conclusiones. La prevalencia de la microcefalia en Colombia entre 1982 y 2013, antes de la epidemia del virus del Zika, oscilaba entre 0,3 y 3,1 por 10.000 nacimientos, con un promedio de 1,8 (IC95% 1,7-1,8). Este dato es importante para determinar la diferencia en la prevalencia después de la introducción del virus del Zika en Colombia.