Zika Virus-A Mini review

Recently Zika outbreak in Brazil highlighted itself to World Health Organization (WHO) and has been declared international emergency to public health. In this view, it has become mandatory to have one spot pool of knowledge i.e. its prevalence along with symptoms, transmission, diagnosis, prevention and other important data. Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging globally mosquito (Aedes) -borne pathogen belonging to family Flaviviridae and genus Flavivirus. It was first isolated in 1947 in Uganda. Zika cases were reported in Africa, Asia and predominantly in Pacific. Its symptoms demonstrate dengue like syndrome. Transmission of ZIKV occurs through infected mosquito bite, sexual intercourse, infected blood transfusion and mother to fetus. Zika symptoms include rash, myalgia, arthralgia, headache, fever, and edema. ZIKV infection during pregnancy cause congenital brain damage and microcephaly in new born. Mosquitoes and monkeys are main vectors of ZIKV. Zika diagnosis is mainly done by molecular techniques (RT-PCR)) and serological tests (ELISA or immuno-fluorescence). No treatment is available till now for ZIKV. Prevention strategies include insect repellant and eradication of mosquito vector. We, the authors feel this document as a preliminary informative source in overall related directions.

Canadian Journal of Microbiology

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne virus that was first isolated from Zika forest, Uganda, in 1947. Since its inception, major and minor outbreaks have been documented from several parts of world. Aedes spp. mosquitoes are the primary vectors of ZIKV, but the virus can also be transmitted through sexual practices, materno-fetal transmission, and blood transfusion. The clinical presentations of symptomatic ZIKV infections are similar to dengue and chikungunya, including fever, headache, arthralgia, retro-orbital pain, conjunctivitis, and rash. ZIKV often causes mild illness in the majority of cases, but in some instances, it is linked with congenital microcephaly and autoimmune disorders like Guillain–Barré syndrome. The recent Indian ZIKV outbreak suggests that the virus is circulating in the South East Asian region and may cause new outbreaks in future. At present, no specific vaccines or antivirals are available to treat ZIKV, so management and control of ZIKV infections rely m...

Since isolation of Zika virus (ZIKV) in Uganda from Zika forest in the 1947, for sixty years the virus has caused only scattered human cases in Africa and Southeast Asia. From 2007, outbreaks with an increasing number of cases, including cases with neurological manifestations, have been occurring in Pacific islands. In 2015, ZIKV reached Brazil with an explosive number of cases and a severe neurological impact on fetuses and newborns. The natural history and several immunological aspects of ZIKV infection need to be characterized. In this review it is summarized the spread of ZIKV around the world and pointed out some gaps on the immunological knowledge related to the infection. The characterization of the immunodominant/protective immune response would contribute to vaccine and diagnosis tests development.

Journal of critical care, 2018

Zika fever is an acute infectious disease caused by the Zika virus (ZIKV), an RNA virus belonging to the genus Flavivirus. ZIKV can be transmitted by bites from Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species, sexual activity, blood transfusion and from mother to fetus during pregnancy and delivery. A total of 50 territories and countries in the Americas had reported ZIKV infections. For those with symptoms, the presentation is similar to dengue fever with body aches, joint pain, fatigue, malaise, fever and conjunctivitis lasting up to seven days. A maculopapular rash may also occur and is usually pruritic. Neurological complications are well documented and include Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and congenital ZIKV syndrome, and less frequently acute myelitis and meningoencephalitis. ZIKV infection usually causes a mild illness and most patients are managed conservatively. Currently, no antiviral therapy is available. The most appropriate therapy for ZIKV-associated GBS is yet unclear, ho...

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2018

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging pathogen of huge public health significance to human beings. Although majority of infections are benign with self-limiting symptoms, the recent outbreak has established an association with the increased incidence of some congenital anomalies such as microcephaly. In other words, due to the large extent of the virus and mosquito vectors, the infection has become a thoughtful health problem for human societies, though now, there are no antiviral therapies or vaccines against this virus. In spite of extensive research carried out by scientists, not so much information has been gathered about this viral infection. In the current review, we prepared an overview of the remarkable progress made in understanding about the epidemiology, immunology, clinical presentation, and diagnosis methods of ZIKV infection.

Journal of IMAB - Annual Proceeding (Scientific Papers), 2016

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arbovirus from Flaviviridae family, genus Flavivirus. Like most of the viruses which belong to the Flavivirus genus, it replicates in and is transmitted by mosquitoes. Unlike other arbovirus infections including dengue and chikungunya, Zika virus causes a relatively mild disease. The most common symptoms of ZIKV are mild fever, arthralgia, myalgia, headache, asthenia, abdominal pain, oedema, lymphadenopathy, retro-orbital pain, conjunctivitis, and cutaneous maculopapular rash, which last for several days to a week. Although 80% of the cases with ZIKV are asymptomatic, severe complications such as microcephalia and GBS may be observed. This explains why ZIKV is more dangerous that it was thought to be and why it rapidly evolves in unexpected challenge for the international and national public health authorities.

Journal of Biological Research-Thessaloniki, 2020

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a newly emergent relative of the Flaviviridae family and linked to dengue (DENV) and Chikungunya (CHIVKV). ZIKV is one of the rising pathogens promptly surpassing geographical borders. ZIKV infection was characterized by mild disease with fever, headache, rash, arthralgia and conjunctivitis, with exceptional reports of an association with Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS) and microcephaly. However, since the end of 2015, an increase in the number of GBS associated cases and an astonishing number of microcephaly in fetus and new-borns in Brazil have been related to ZIKV infection, raising serious worldwide public health concerns. ZIKV is transmitted by the bite of infected female mosquitoes of Aedes species. Clarifying such worrisome relationships is, thus, a current unavoidable goal. Here, we extensively described the current understanding of the effects of ZIKV on heath, clinical manifestation, diagnosis and treatment options based on modern, alternative and comple...

Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, 2016

Zika virus (ZIKV) was discovered more than half a century ago, recently it has gained unprecedented attention by the global health community. Until 2007, only 14 cases of human ZIKV infections were reported around the globe, while during the current outbreak, estimated cases mounted to approximately 1.5 million in Brazil alone, the virus was disseminated to wider South-American territories and travel-associated ZIKV infections were reported in USA, Europe and recently in China. ZIKV infections remain asymptomatic in approximately 80% of the individuals, and no anti-viral treatments were recommended. Yet, neurological complications associated with the infections, such as infant microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome are major cause of the concern. Although, based on small numbers of cases, existing evidence strongly supports an exclusive link of viral infection and observed neurological complications. However, much work remains to assign exact numbers of complications caused by ZIKV. Regarding its structural attributes ZIKV shows remarkable resemblance with dengue virus and West-Nile virus. Despite, genomes of different ZIKV strains have already been decoded; role of the viral components in infection process and particularly pathogenesis of the disease remain widely unclear. In vulnerable areas, most viable strategy to ensure public health safety is vector control and enhanced public awareness about the transmission of the disease.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), 2021

Zika virus disease is a vector borne disease transmitted by several Aedes species. This virus is now considered as emerging pathogen. zika virus infection symptoms are generally mild and can be misdiagnosed with many arboviral infections which cause fever and rash. So far, there is no vaccine or treatment available to treat patient with Zika virus infection. Furthermore, numerous studies have strongly suggested that there is an association between zika virus infection and neurological complications like Guillain-Barré syndrome. In this mini-review we compile recent data on ZIKA virus and its transmission inside and outside the African continent.