UK Wedding News
19/02/2016
The Zika Virus is a mosquito-borne virus and while it isn't believed to be harmful in most cases, concerns have been raised that it could be harmful for pregnancies as it has been potentially linked to birth defects, specifically microcephaly. Microcephaly is a neurodevelopmental disorder, in which the head circumference of newborns is smaller than expected. There is said to have been an increase in such cases coinciding in countries where the Zika virus is circulating.
According to a new study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, the Zika virus has been detected in the amniotic fluid of two pregnant women whose fetuses had been diagnosed with microcephaly. This suggests that the virus is able to cross the placental barrier, but there is not yet proof that the virus causes microcephaly.
The two women, aged 27 and 35 and both from Paraiba, a state in northeast Brazil, are understood to have presented with symptoms of Zika virus infection including fever, muscle pain and a rash during their first trimester of pregnancy.
At 22 weeks of pregnancy, ultrasounds confirmed both womens' fetuses had microcephaly.
At 28 weeks of pregnancy, samples of amniotic fluid were taken and analysed for potential infections. Both women tested negative for dengue virus, chikungunya virus and other infections, such as HIV, syphilis and herpes.
However, while the blood and urine samples of both women tested negative for Zika virus, their amniotic fluid tested positive for Zika virus genome and Zika antibodies. The samples were later found to be genetically related to the strain of the virus identified in French Polynesia in 2013.
Dr Ana de Filippis, from the Oswaldo Cruz Institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and lead author of the study, said further research into a potential link of Zika virus and microcephaly is needed urgently.
The study can be found here.
(JP/MH)
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Study Looks At Link Between Zika Virus And Microcephaly
A new study has suggested that the Zika Virus could potentially cross the placental barrier, but a link between the virus and microcephaly still remains unclear.The Zika Virus is a mosquito-borne virus and while it isn't believed to be harmful in most cases, concerns have been raised that it could be harmful for pregnancies as it has been potentially linked to birth defects, specifically microcephaly. Microcephaly is a neurodevelopmental disorder, in which the head circumference of newborns is smaller than expected. There is said to have been an increase in such cases coinciding in countries where the Zika virus is circulating.
According to a new study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, the Zika virus has been detected in the amniotic fluid of two pregnant women whose fetuses had been diagnosed with microcephaly. This suggests that the virus is able to cross the placental barrier, but there is not yet proof that the virus causes microcephaly.
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The two women, aged 27 and 35 and both from Paraiba, a state in northeast Brazil, are understood to have presented with symptoms of Zika virus infection including fever, muscle pain and a rash during their first trimester of pregnancy.
At 22 weeks of pregnancy, ultrasounds confirmed both womens' fetuses had microcephaly.
At 28 weeks of pregnancy, samples of amniotic fluid were taken and analysed for potential infections. Both women tested negative for dengue virus, chikungunya virus and other infections, such as HIV, syphilis and herpes.
However, while the blood and urine samples of both women tested negative for Zika virus, their amniotic fluid tested positive for Zika virus genome and Zika antibodies. The samples were later found to be genetically related to the strain of the virus identified in French Polynesia in 2013.
Dr Ana de Filippis, from the Oswaldo Cruz Institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and lead author of the study, said further research into a potential link of Zika virus and microcephaly is needed urgently.
The study can be found here.
(JP/MH)
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