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PloS One 2020The signs and symptoms of Zika virus infection are usually mild and self-limited. However, the disease has been linked to neurological complications such as...
BACKGROUND
The signs and symptoms of Zika virus infection are usually mild and self-limited. However, the disease has been linked to neurological complications such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and peripheral nerve involvement, and also to abortion and fetal deaths due to vertical transmission, resulting in various congenital malformations in newborns, including microcephaly. This review aimed to describe the o signs and symptoms that characterize the congenital Zika syndrome.
METHODS AND FINDINGS
A systematic review was performed with a protocol and described according to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. The search strategy yielded 2,048 studies. After the exclusion of duplicates and application of inclusion criteria, 46 studies were included. The main signs and symptoms associated with the congenital Zika syndrome were microcephaly, parenchymal or cerebellar calcifications, ventriculomegaly, central nervous system hypoplasia or atrophy, arthrogryposis, ocular findings in the posterior and anterior segments, abnormal visual function and low birthweight for gestational age.
CONCLUSIONS
Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a series of changes in the growth and development of children, while impacting the healthcare system due to the severity of cases. Our findings outline the disease profile in newborns and infants and may contribute to the development and updating of more specific clinical protocols.
Topics: Child Development; Female; Guillain-Barre Syndrome; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Nervous System Malformations; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Syndrome; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 33320867
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242367 -
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease Sep 2022Congenital microcephaly is caused by a multitude of drivers affecting maternal−fetal health during pregnancy. It is a rare outcome in high-income industrial countries... (Review)
Review
Congenital microcephaly is caused by a multitude of drivers affecting maternal−fetal health during pregnancy. It is a rare outcome in high-income industrial countries where microcephaly rates are in the range of 0.3−0.9 per 1000 newborns. Prevalence of microcephaly varies considerably across developing countries and can go as high as 58 cases per 1000 live births in pregnancies exposed to infection by Zika virus (ZIKV). Not only ZIKV-infected pregnancies, but other drivers can modulate the occurrence and severity of this outcome. Here, we sought to test the ZIKV−microcephaly association vs. competing hypotheses using a meta-analysis with 8341 microcephaly cases pooled from 10,250,994 newborns in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Analysis of risk ratios (RR) showed teratogens the most likely microcephaly-associated risk factor (RR = 3.43; 95%-CI 2.69−4.38; p-value < 0.0001), while the statistical significance of the ZIKV−microcephaly association was marginal (RR = 2.12; 95%-CI 1.01−4.48; p-value = 0.048). Other congenital infections showed strong but variable associations with microcephaly (RR = 15.24; 95%-CI 1.74−133.70; p-value = 0.014). Microcephaly cases were associated with impoverished socioeconomic settings, but this association was statistically non-significant (RR = 2.75; 95%-CI 0.55−13.78; p-value = 0.22). The marginal ZIKV−microcephaly association and statistical significance of the competing hypotheses suggest maternal ZIKV infection might not be a cause of microcephaly alone.
PubMed: 36288003
DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7100261 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2020The global epidemic of Zika virus has been a major public health problem affecting pregnant women and their infants. Zika virus causes a viral disease transmitted to...
The global epidemic of Zika virus has been a major public health problem affecting pregnant women and their infants. Zika virus causes a viral disease transmitted to humans mainly by the infected mosquito bite. The infection is not severe in most cases; however, there is evidence that infection during pregnancy may be associated with fetal genetic abnormalities (including microcephaly). In addition to microcephaly and other malformations, some specific lesions in the central nervous system have been reported. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the risk of developing microcephaly in infants whose mothers were infected with Zika virus in pregnancy. Epidemiological studies and case reports were incorporated in our review, finally including 15 articles from an initial pool of 355 related papers. Most studies have linked maternal infection during pregnancy to the development of neonatal microcephaly. The period considered most dangerous is the first trimester and the beginning or the whole of the second trimester. In order to understand the relationship between Zika virus and microcephaly in infants, a cohort study will be able to estimate the time from the onset of Zika infection and the full spectrum of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant; Microcephaly; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Pregnancy Trimesters; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 32471131
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17113806 -
American Journal of Public Health Apr 2016To describe salient epidemiological characteristics of Zika virus outbreaks across the world and to examine the clinical presentations, complications, and atypical... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
To describe salient epidemiological characteristics of Zika virus outbreaks across the world and to examine the clinical presentations, complications, and atypical manifestations related to their occurrence in recent history.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review of the literature by searching through MEDLINE, Embase, and Global Health Library, as well as the epidemiological bulletins and alerts from the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control over the period 1954 to 2016.
RESULTS
The search yielded 547 records. We retained 333 for further analysis, to which we added 11 epidemiological bulletins from various sources. Of these, we systematically reviewed 52 articles and reports, revealing some epidemiological features and patterns of spread of the Zika virus worldwide, as well as pathological outcomes suspected to be linked to Zika outbreaks. Neurologic disorders among zika patients were similar in Brazil and French Polynesia but a causal link is not established. Incidence of zika infection in pregnant women is not known. In Brazil, during the zika outbreak the incidence of microcephaly increased more than 20 times. Among 35 infants with microcephaly, born from women suspected to have Zika infection during pregnancy in northeast Brazil, 74% of the mothers reported rash during the first and second trimester.
CONCLUSIONS
On February 1, 2016, The World Health Organization declared the ongoing Zika crisis an emergency and that, although not yet scientifically proven, the link between the virus and growing numbers of microcephaly cases was "strongly suspected." However, the causal relationship between zika and microcephaly is not universally accepted. Public Health Implications. The current situation with regard to Zika is not encouraging, because there is no vaccine, no treatment, and no good serological test, and vector control remains a challenge.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Brazil; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Global Health; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Infant; Microcephaly; Nervous System Diseases; Pregnancy; World Health Organization; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 26959260
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303112 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2017Zika virus is an emergent flavivirus transmitted by genus mosquitoes that recently reached the Americas and was soon implicated in an increase of microcephaly... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Zika virus is an emergent flavivirus transmitted by genus mosquitoes that recently reached the Americas and was soon implicated in an increase of microcephaly incidence. The objective of the present study is to systematically review the published data and perform a meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of microcephaly in babies born to Zika virus-infected women during pregnancy. We searched PubMed and Cochrane databases, included cohort studies, and excluded case reports and case series publications. We extracted sample sizes and the number of microcephaly cases from eight studies, which permitted a calculation of prevalence rates that are pooled in a random-effects model meta-analysis. We estimated the prevalence of microcephaly of 2.3% (95% CI = 1.0-5.3%) among all pregnancies. Limitations include mixed samples of women infected at different pregnancy times, since it is known that infection at the first trimester is associated with higher risk to congenital anomalies. The estimates are deceptively low, given the devastating impact the infection causes over children and their families. We hope our study contributes to public health knowledge to fight Zika virus epidemics to protect mothers and their newborns.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Microcephaly; Prevalence; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 28783051
DOI: 10.3390/ijms18081714 -
American Journal of Medical Genetics.... Sep 2022Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a rare genetic syndrome associated with growth delay, phenotypic facial characteristics, microcephaly, developmental delay, broad... (Review)
Review
Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a rare genetic syndrome associated with growth delay, phenotypic facial characteristics, microcephaly, developmental delay, broad thumbs, and big toes. Most research on RTS has focused on the genotype and physical phenotype; however, several studies have described behavioral, cognitive, social, and emotional characteristics, elucidating the behavioral phenotype of RTS. The reporting of this review was informed by PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search of CINAHL, Medline, and PsychINFO was carried out in March 2021 to identify group studies describing behavioral, cognitive, emotional, psychiatric, and social characteristics in RTS. The studies were quality appraised. Characteristics reported include repetitive behavior, behaviors that challenge, intellectual disability, mental health difficulties, autism characteristics, and heightened sociability. Findings were largely consistent across studies, indicating that many characteristics are likely to form part of the behavioral phenotype of RTS. However, methodological limitations, such as a lack of appropriate comparison groups and inconsistency in measurement weaken these conclusions. There is a need for multi-disciplinary studies, combining genetic and psychological measurement expertise within single research studies. Recommendations are made for future research studies in RTS.
Topics: Genotype; Humans; Intellectual Disability; Phenotype; Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome
PubMed: 35730128
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62867 -
Viruses Feb 2023The Zika virus outbreak has affected pregnant women and their infants. Affected infants develop microcephaly and other congenital malformations referred to as congenital... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The Zika virus outbreak has affected pregnant women and their infants. Affected infants develop microcephaly and other congenital malformations referred to as congenital Zika syndrome. The neurological manifestations of congenital Zika syndrome may result in some feeding disorders, including dysphagia, swallowing dysfunction and choking while feeding. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of feeding and breastfeeding difficulties in children with congenital Zika syndrome and to estimate the risk of developing feeding disabilities.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus for studies published from 2017 to 2021. From the total of 360 papers, reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and publications in languages other than English were excluded. Therefore, the final sample of our study consisted of 11 articles about the feeding/breastfeeding difficulties of infants and children with congenital Zika syndrome.
RESULTS
Infants and children with congenital Zika syndrome were likely to suffer from feeding difficulties at various levels, including breastfeeding. Dysphagia problems ranged from 17.9% to 70%, and nutritional and non-nutritive suckling of infants was also affected.
CONCLUSIONS
In addition to continuing to investigate the neurodevelopment of affected children, future research should also focus on the severity of factors influencing the degree of dysphagia, as well as the impact of breastfeeding on the child's overall development.
Topics: Infant; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Pregnancy; Female; Zika Virus Infection; Breast Feeding; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Deglutition Disorders; Zika Virus
PubMed: 36992310
DOI: 10.3390/v15030601 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2022The CTNNB1 Syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder associated with developmental delay, intellectual disability, and delayed or absent speech. The aim of the... (Review)
Review
The CTNNB1 Syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder associated with developmental delay, intellectual disability, and delayed or absent speech. The aim of the present study is to systematically review the available data on the prevalence of clinical manifestations and to evaluate the correlation between phenotype and genotype in published cases of patients with CTNNB1 Syndrome. Studies were identified by systematic searches of four major databases. Information was collected on patients' genetic mutations, prenatal and neonatal problems, head circumference, muscle tone, EEG and MRI results, dysmorphic features, eye abnormalities, early development, language and comprehension, behavioral characteristics, and additional clinical problems. In addition, the mutations were classified into five groups according to the severity of symptoms. The study showed wide genotypic and phenotypic variability in patients with CTNNB1 Syndrome. The most common moderate-severe phenotype manifested in facial dysmorphisms, microcephaly, various motor disabilities, language and cognitive impairments, and behavioral abnormalities (e.g., autistic-like or aggressive behavior). Nonsense and missense mutations occurring in exons 14 and 15 were classified in the normal clinical outcome category/group because they had presented an otherwise normal phenotype, except for eye abnormalities. A milder phenotype was also observed with missense and nonsense mutations in exon 13. The autosomal dominant CTNNB1 Syndrome encompasses a wide spectrum of clinical features, ranging from normal to severe. While mutations cannot be more generally categorized by location, it is generally observed that the C-terminal protein region (exons 13, 14, 15) correlates with a milder phenotype.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Codon, Nonsense; Phenotype; Intellectual Disability; Syndrome; Genotype; Mutation; Eye Abnormalities; beta Catenin
PubMed: 36293418
DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012564 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Nov 2017Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) that recently caused outbreaks in the Americas. Over the past 60 years, this virus has been observed... (Review)
Review
Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) that recently caused outbreaks in the Americas. Over the past 60 years, this virus has been observed circulating among African, Asian, and Pacific Island populations, but little attention has been paid by the scientific community until the discovery that large-scale urban ZIKV outbreaks were associated with neurological complications such as microcephaly and several other neurological malformations in fetuses and newborns. This paper is a systematic review intended to list all mosquito species studied for ZIKV infection or for their vector competence. We discuss whether studies on ZIKV vectors have brought enough evidence to formally exclude other mosquitoes than Aedes species (and particularly Aedes aegypti) to be ZIKV vectors. From 1952 to August 15, 2017, ZIKV has been studied in 53 mosquito species, including 6 Anopheles, 26 Aedes, 11 Culex, 2 Lutzia, 3 Coquillettidia, 2 Mansonia, 2 Eretmapodites, and 1 Uranotaenia. Among those, ZIKV was isolated from 16 different Aedes species. The only species other than Aedes genus for which ZIKV was isolated were Anopheles coustani, Anopheles gambiae, Culex perfuscus, and Mansonia uniformis. Vector competence assays were performed on 22 different mosquito species, including 13 Aedes, 7 Culex, and 2 Anopheles species with, as a result, the discovery that A. aegypti and Aedes albopictus were competent for ZIKV, as well as some other Aedes species, and that there was a controversy surrounding Culex quinquefasciatus competence. Although Culex, Anopheles, and most of Aedes species were generally observed to be refractory to ZIKV infection, other potential vectors transmitting ZIKV should be explored.
Topics: Aedes; Americas; Animals; Anopheles; Culex; Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Microcephaly; Mosquito Vectors; Saliva; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 29145400
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005933 -
Reproductive Health Feb 2017To characterize maternal Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and complement the evidence base for the WHO interim guidance on pregnancy management in the context of ZIKV... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
To characterize maternal Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and complement the evidence base for the WHO interim guidance on pregnancy management in the context of ZIKV infection.
METHODS
We searched the relevant database from inception until March 2016. Two review authors independently screened and assessed full texts of eligible reports and extracted data from relevant studies. The quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) tool for observational studies and case series/reports, respectively.
RESULTS
Among 142 eligible full-text articles, 18 met the inclusion criteria (13 case series/reports and five cohort studies). Common symptoms among pregnant women with suspected/confirmed ZIKV infection were fever, rash, and arthralgia. One case of Guillain-Barré syndrome was reported among ZIKV-infected mothers, no other case of severe maternal morbidity or mortality reported. Complications reported in association with maternal ZIKV infection included a broad range of fetal and newborn neurological and ocular abnormalities; fetal growth restriction, stillbirth, and perinatal death. Microcephaly was the primary neurological complication reported in eight studies, with an incidence of about 1% among newborns of ZIKV infected women in one study.
CONCLUSION
Given the extensive and variable fetal and newborn presentations/complications associated with prenatal ZIKV infection, and the dearth of information provided, knowledge gaps are evident. Further research and comprehensive reporting may provide a better understanding of ZIKV infection in pregnancy and attendant maternal/fetal complications. This knowledge could inform the creation of effective and evidence-based strategies, guidelines and recommendations aimed at the management of maternal ZIKV infection. Adherence to current best practice guidelines for prenatal care among health providers is encouraged, in the context of maternal ZIKV infection.
Topics: Disease Progression; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 28241773
DOI: 10.1186/s12978-017-0285-6