Two years ago, the Zika virus dominated news headlines along with the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Today, new topics have replaced Zika virus as headline news, however, the virus is still around and continues to be a public health threat, especially to pregnant women. More importantly, it is still a hot topic among scientists and for good reasons.
The Zika virus had devastating effects in the western hemisphere, it ravaged the Americas, as reports of infections and devastating birth defects swept through Brazil and Colombia, before reaching the United States. In a welcome turn, the number of Zika cases reported in the western hemisphere during 2017 dropped dramatically, especially in the hardest-hit areas. But few scientists are naive enough to think they have seen the last of Zika. “The clock is ticking for when we will see another outbreak,” says Andrew Haddow, a medical entomologist at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in Frederick, MD. [Ref 1]
Today’s post calls attention to some of the research that is underway and the progress in understanding how the virus affects humans, especially pregnant women and new born infants since our last post, Some Zika Virus Updates for 2017, that was published on July 3, 2017.
Travel Advisories: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises pregnant women, their partners or couples planning to get pregnant not to travel to: Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Central Africa, India, Pakistan and Southeast Asia. CDC lifted their advisory for south Florida in 2017 after mosquito abatement efforts proved the virus to no longer be a threat to residents.
Zika Virus Detection: BioSpectrum, a bio and health monthly magazine, has reported via a news release on March 23, 2018 that Roche has launched the first fully automated Zika IgG immunoassay to help detect Zika virus infection. The diagnostic test is called the Elecsys Zika IgG immunoassay and will be available in Conformité Européene (CE) Mark countries. As diagnostic testing enables healthcare professionals to assess the immune status of patients, Roche’s immunoassay will be of particular importance to expectant mothers, their partners and travelers to detect evidence of a recent Zika virus infection.
Researchers at New York University College of Dentistry (NYU Dentistry) and its collaborative partner, Rheonix, Inc. of Ithaca, NY, are developing a novel test for Zika virus that uses saliva to identify diagnostic markers of the virus in a fraction of the time of current commercial tests. The test, which was adapted from an existing model developed by NYU and Rheonix for rapid HIV testing, is described in two new publications appearing in PLOS ONE and the Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE).
With a similar testing objective but perhaps a different path, Brazilian technology firm, Inovatech, has developed a test that detects antibodies against Zika virus in samples of blood serum with high specificity—and hence a low risk of cross-reaction with related microorganisms such as dengue virus. Inovatech achieved this milestone with support from the São Paulo Research Foundation—FAPESP (through its Innovative Research in Small Business Program) and in collaboration with scientists at the University of São Paulo’s Biomedical Science Institute (ICB-USP) and the Butantan Institute. The serological test is set to enter the Brazilian market before the end of Calendar Year 2018. [Ref 2]
“We’re in the final stages of developing a serological test to detect immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, which remain in the organism for many years after infection, providing lifelong immunity,” says Danielle Bruna Leal de Oliveira, a researcher at ICB-USP’s Clinical & Molecular Virology Laboratory and principal investigator for the project. [Ref 2] “The test’s specificity is 93% for Zika,” Oliveira said.
A test of this kind can answer several strategic questions that will assist in the development of a plan of action against the disease. As examples:
- What is the exact size of the epidemic (distinguishing more precisely between cases of dengue and Zika, in both current and past outbreaks)?
- What proportion of pregnant women are infected (and hence immune)?
- How many women risk giving birth to babies with neurological problems due to congenital infection?
“The idea is to include this test in the prenatal examination process,” Oliveira said. “If we can do that, pregnant women with a negative result [meaning they have never been infected] will take more precautions, such as avoiding travel to high-risk areas and using insect repellent. Meanwhile, those who are immune will be able to stop worrying.”
In utero Effects of Zika virus: While it is well know that pregnant women who contract the Zika virus are at risk of having a child born with microcephaly, or a smaller than normal head and other malformations, explaining how the virus affects the baby in the womb has been a daunting task. Science Daily is reporting that there is new research that suggests the virus damages a pregnant mother’s placenta, an organ inside a woman’s uterus that helps protect and care for a growing baby. A paper published in Nature Communications describes how Zika virus infection in five pregnant rhesus monkeys caused placental tissues to become thickened and inflamed. As a result, the researchers saw less oxygen being transported across the placenta and to the baby. Decreased oxygen levels in a placenta can impair fetal development and ultimately the health of a baby after its born.
The Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) research team also determined the Zika virus can readily pass from mother to baby and remain in the baby long-term, leading to a chronic infection in utero. These findings may provide important insights into the mechanisms by which Zika virus causes disease during pregnancy.
By better understanding how both mother and child become infected with and affected by the Zika virus, researchers can determine how to prevent its infection and disease. The OHSU research team is using the knowledge gained from this study to help develop a safe and effective Zika vaccine for use during pregnancy.
In closing, spring has sprung and the local temperatures are starting to rise in most places within the United States. The Zika virus is being detected and Zika infections are on the rise in parts of the United States where mosquitoes spread the virus, according to the CDC.
For those of you in the Christian community who are commemorating the upcoming Son Rise, Happy Easter.
Sources Cited:
- Zika cases are down, but researchers prepare for the virus’ return, by Aimee Cunningham in Science News, December 13, 2017, https://www.sciencenews.org/article/zika-virus-top-science-stories-2017-yir
- Test detects prior infection by Zika virus, reported by Medical Xpress, March 29, 2018, https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-03-prior-infection-zika-virus.html
- Zika virus damages placenta, which may explain malformed babies, Science Daily, January 18, 2018, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180118142608.htm
About Vi Brown
Vi is principal and CEO of Prophecy Consulting Group, LLC, an Arizona firm that provides business and engineering services to private and public clients. Prior to establishing her consulting practice in 2001, Vi worked with Motorola, Maricopa County Government, Pacific Gas & Electric, CH2M Hill, and Procter & Gamble. As an adjunct faculty member, Vi teaches undergraduate calculus classes and graduate level environmental courses. She is also a professional speaker.