Surveillance of Erythrovirus B19 (B19V) in patients with acute febrile illness suspected of arboviruses in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil.

Introduction: Human Erythrovirus (parvovirus) B19 infection can produce symptoms similar to those produced by Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika viruses, making clinical diagnosis difficult. The importance of erythrovirus B19 in human pathology has been increased and reported in numerous studies published globally. Methods: The B19V infection was investigated by real-time PCR in sera samples from patients with signs and symptoms related to classic arboviral symptoms. This study was conducted to provide information on the genetic diversity of Human Erythrovirus B19 (B19V) circulating in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Midwest region of Brazil, from 2017 to 2022. A total of 773 sera samples of patients with negative diagnostic results for Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika, during the study period were analyzed. Results: Erythrovirus DNA was found in 10.6% (82/773) of patients, among them 10 were pregnant women. Four samples were completely sequenced, and the other five partially, to genotype by phylogenetic reconstruction. All samples belong to worldwide dispersed genotype 1, subgenotype 1a. Discussion: The findings of the study demonstrate the importance of including B19V in differential laboratory diagnosis for epidemiological purposes and appropriate patient management. The diagnosis for B19V should be performed, particularly among pregnant women, immunocompromised patients, and individuals with hemolytic diseases, given that the infection is more severe in these cases.

Low humidity enhances Zika virus infection and dissemination in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

As climate change alters Earth's biomes, it is expected the transmission dynamics of mosquito-borne viruses will change. While the effects of temperature changes on mosquito-virus interactions and the spread of the pathogens have been elucidated over the last decade, the impact of relative humidity changes is still relatively unknown. To overcome this knowledge gap, we exposed Aedes aegypti females to various humidity conditions. We measured different components of vectorial capacity such as survival, blood-feeding rates, and changes in infection and dissemination of Zika virus. Survival decreased as the humidity level decreased, while infection rates increased as the humidity level decreased. Alternatively, blood feeding rates and disseminated infection rates peaked at the intermediate 50% relative humidity treatment but were the same in the 30% and 80% relative humidity treatments. These results provide empirical evidence that Ae. aegypti exposure to low humidity can enhance Zika virus infection in the mosquito, which has important implications in predicting how climate change will impact mosquito-borne viruses.IMPORTANCEViruses transmitted by mosquitoes to humans are a major public health burden and are expected to increase under climate change. While we know that temperature is an important driver of variation in arbovirus replication in the mosquito, very little is known about how other relevant climate variables such as humidity will influence the interaction between mosquitoes and the viruses they transmit. Given the variability in humidity across environments, and the predicted changes in humidity under climate change, it is imperative that we also study the impact that it has on mosquito infection and transmission of arboviruses.

[Zika virus infection: sexual transmission and implications for prevention]. / Infection au virus Zika: transmission sexuelle et conséquences sur la prévention: Présentation faite lors de la Journée scientifique de la SFMTSI du 9/11/2023 « Infections sexuellement transmissibles tropicales ¼.

Zika virus infection, most oft n responsible for a benign arboviral disease or an asymptomatic infection, rarely Guillain-Barré syndrome, can become problematic in pregnant women, due to a risk of fetal malformations, in particular microcephaly linked to its neurotropism. The most recent large-scale epidemic was observed throughout Latin America between 2015 and 2017, causing several hundred thousand cases. Transmission is predominantly vector-borne, but sexual transmission has been described, mainly among travelers, although it undoubtedly accounts for a significant proportion of transmission in epidemic areas. The aim of this review is to describe this sexual transmission, mainly through examples linked to this large-scale epidemic in Latin America, to describe the link with prolonged excretion of infectious viral particles in genital secretions, especially semen but also vaginal secretions, and to highlight possible preventive measures apart from vector transmission, in particular the need for pregnant women or women wishing to become pregnant to avoid visiting countries where circulation of Zika virus is described.

The inoculum dose of Zika virus can affect the viral replication dynamics, cytokine responses and survival rate in immunocompromised AG129 mice.

Zika virus, a mosquito-borne arbovirus, has repeatedly caused large pandemics with symptoms worsening from mild and self-limiting diseases to Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults and fetal microcephaly in newborns. In recent years, Zika virus diseases have posed a serious threat to human health. The shortage of susceptible small animal models makes it difficult to study pathogenic mechanisms and evaluate potential therapies for Zika virus infection. Therefore, we chose immunocompromised mice (AG129 mice) deficient in IFN-α/ß and IFN-γ receptors, which can abolish the innate immune system that prevents Zika virus infection early. AG129 mice were infected with the Zika virus, and this mouse model exhibited replication dynamics, tissue tropism, pathological lesion and immune activation of the Zika virus. Our results suggest that the inoculum dose of Zika virus can affect the viral replication dynamics, cytokine responses and survival rate in AG129 mice. By testing the potential antiviral drug favipiravir, several critical indicators, including replication dynamics and survival rates, were identified in AG129 mice after Zika virus infection. It is suggested that the model is reliable for drug evaluation. In brief, this model provides a potential platform for studies of the infectivity, virulence, and pathogenesis of the Zika virus. Moreover, the development of an accessible mouse model of Zika virus infection will expedite the research and deployment of therapeutics and vaccines.

Computational investigation of stochastic Zika virus optimal control model using Legendre spectral method.

This study presents a computational investigation of a stochastic Zika virus along with optimal control model using the Legendre spectral collocation method (LSCM). By accumulation of stochasticity into the model through the proposed stochastic differential equations, we appropriating the random fluctuations essential in the progression and disease transmission. The stability, convergence and accuracy properties of the LSCM are conscientiously analyzed and also demonstrating its strength for solving the complex epidemiological models. Moreover, the study evaluates the various control strategies, such as treatment, prevention and treatment pesticide control, and identifies optimal combinations that the intervention costs and also minimize the proposed infection rates. The basic properties of the given model, such as the reproduction number, were determined with and without the presence of the control strategies. For R 0 < 0 , the model satisfies the disease-free equilibrium, in this case the disease die out after some time, while for R 0 > 1 , then endemic equilibrium is satisfied, in this case the disease spread in the population at higher scale. The fundamental findings acknowledge the significant impact of stochastic phonemes on the robustness and effectiveness of control strategies that accelerating the need for cost-effective and multi-faceted approaches. In last the results provide the valuable insights for public health department to enabling more impressive mitigation of Zika virus outbreaks and management in real-world scenarios.

MicroRNA profiles in Zika virus infection: Insights from diverse sources.

BACKGROUND: Zika virus (ZIKV) stands as one of the most significant reemerging viral pathogens, linked to neurological diseases such as meningoencephalitis and congenital microcephaly. Today there are no effective therapies for treating ZIKV-infected patients. MiRNAs play a critical role in regulating cellular signaling and physiological conditions, and alterations in their profiles can bear great significance in disease progression. OBJECTIVES: Despite significant progress in understanding the interaction between the ZIKV and its host since the outbreak, a more comprehensive understanding on these interactions is imperative. This review aims to summarize the studies in the field and shed light on the intricate relationship between ZIKV and its host at the molecular level. CONTENT: We found that in ZIKV-infected humans, over-expression of miR-431-5p and miR-30e-5p plays a crucial role in innate immune responses and contributes to neurological damage. Additionally, in ZIKA-infected mice, we observed upregulated expression of all the targets of miR-124-3p including CCL2, IL7, IRF1, and SBNO2. Notably, other targets of this miRNA include TLR6, TNF, STAT3, and NF-kB also exhibited upregulation in the central nervous system (CNS) of infected mice. Conversely, miR-654-3p levels were reduced, correlating with the upregulation of its predicted targets including FLT3LG, LITAF, CD69, and TLR2. In the case of insects, aae-miR-286a/b-3p was predicted to target all ZIKV genotypes. This specific miRNA is typically found in ovaries and can be transferred to embryos. In conclusion, our findings suggest that host microRNAs and ZIKV-encoded microRNAs hold promise as potential targets for the diagnosis of ZIKV infections and may even serve as a therapeutic approach for managing this infectious disease.

Epidemiological, virological and clinical characterization of a Dengue/Zika outbreak in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica 2017-2018.

The increase in incidence and geographical expansion of viruses transmitted by the Aedes mosquitoes, such as dengue (DENV) and zika (ZIKV) in the Americas, represents a burden for healthcare systems in tropical and subtropical regions. These and other under-detected arboviruses co-circulate in Costa Rica, adding additional complexity to their management due to their shared epidemiological behavior and similarity of symptoms in early stages. Since diagnostics of febrile illness is mostly based on clinical symptoms alone, we gathered acute-phase serum and urine from 399 samples of acute dengue-like cases from two healthcare facilities of Costa Rica, during an outbreak of arboviruses from July 2017 to May 2018, and tested them using molecular and serological methods. The analyses showed that of the clinically presumptive arbovirus cases that were reported, only 39.4% (n=153) of the samples were confirmed positive by RT-PCR to be DENV (DENV (10.3%), CHIKV (0.2%), ZIKV (27.3%), or mixed infections (1.5%). RT-PCR for other alphaviruses and flaviviruses, and PCR for Leptospira sp were negative. Furthermore, to assess flavivirus positivity in post-acute patients, the negative sera were tested against Dengue-IgM. 20% of sera were found positive, confounding even more the definitive number of cases, and emphasizing the need of several distinct diagnostic tools for accurate diagnostics. Molecular characterization of the prM and E genes from isolated viruses revealed that the American/Asian genotype of DENV-2 and the Asian lineage of ZIKV were circulating during this outbreak. Two different clades of DENV-2 American/Asian genotype were identified to co-circulate in the same region and a difference in the platelet and leukocyte count was noted between people infected with each clade, suggesting a putative distinct virulence. Our study sheds light on the necessity for healthcare strategies in managing arbovirus outbreaks, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive molecular and serological diagnostic approaches, as well as molecular characterization. This approach aids in enhancing our understanding of the clinical and epidemiological aspects of arboviral diseases during outbreaks. Our research highlights the need to strengthen training programs for health professionals and the need to increase research-based on laboratory evidence for diagnostic accuracy, guidance, development and implementation of public health interventions and epidemiological surveillance.

Methodology for the Differential Classification of Dengue and Chikungunya According to the PAHO 2022 Diagnostic Guide.

Arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya present similar symptoms in the early stages, which complicates their differential and timely diagnosis. In 2022, the PAHO published a guide to address this challenge. This study proposes a methodological framework that transforms qualitative information into quantitative information, establishing differential weights in relation to symptoms according to the medical evidence and the GRADE scale based on recommendation 1 of the said guide. To achieve this, common variables from the dataset were identified using the PAHO guide, and quality rules were established. A linear interpolation function was then parameterised to assign weights to the symptoms according to the evidence. Machine learning was used to compare the different models, achieving 99% accuracy compared with 79% without the methodology. This proposal represents a significant advancement, allowing the direct application of the PAHO recommendations to the dataset and improving the differential classification of arboviruses.

Buccal Administration of a Zika Virus Vaccine Utilizing 3D-Printed Oral Dissolving Films in a Mouse Model.

Over the years, research regarding the Zika virus has been steadily increasing. Early immunization for ZIKV is a priority for preventing complications such as microencephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Unlike traditional vaccination approaches, oral dissolving films (ODFs) or mucoadhesive film technology is an emerging, exciting concept that can be used in the field of pharmaceuticals for vaccine design and formulation development. This attractive and novel method can help patients who suffer from dysphagia as a complication of a disease or syndrome. In this study, we investigated a microparticulate Zika vaccine administered via the buccal route with the help of thin films or oral dissolving films (ODFs) with a prime dose and two booster doses two weeks apart. In vitro, the ODFs displayed excellent physiochemical properties, indicating that the films were good carriers for vaccine microparticles and biocompatible with the buccal mucosa. In vivo results revealed robust humoral (IgG, subtypes IgG1 and IgG2a) and T-cell responses (CD4+/CD8+) for ZIKV-specific immunity. Both the Zika MP vaccine and the adjuvanted Zika MP vaccine affected memory (CD45R/CD27) and intracellular cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6) expression. In this study, ZIKV vaccination via the buccal route with the aid of ODFs demonstrated great promise for the development of pain-free vaccines for infectious diseases.

Parallel Multifactorial Process Optimization and Intensification for High-Yield Production of Live YF17D-Vectored Zika Vaccine.

The live-attenuated yellow fever 17D strain is a potent vaccine and viral vector. Its manufacture is based on embryonated chicken eggs or adherent Vero cells. Both processes are unsuitable for rapid and scalable supply. Here, we introduce a high-throughput workflow to identify suspension cells that are fit for the high-yield production of live YF17D-based vaccines in an intensified upstream process. The use of an automated parallel ambr15 microbioreactor system for screening and process optimization has led to the identification of two promising cell lines (AGE1.CR.pIX and HEKDyn) and the establishment of optimized production conditions, which have resulted in a >100-fold increase in virus titers compared to the current state of the art using adherent Vero cells. The process can readily be scaled up from the microbioreactor scale (15 mL) to 1 L stirred tank bioreactors. The viruses produced are genetically stable and maintain their favorable safety and immunogenicity profile, as demonstrated by the absence of neurovirulence in suckling BALB/c mice and consistent seroprotection in AG129 mice. In conclusion, the presented workflow allows for the rapid establishment of a robust, scalable, and high-yield process for the production of live-attenuated orthoflavivirus vaccines, which outperforms current standards. The approach described here can serve as a model for the development of scalable processes and the optimization of yields for other virus-based vaccines that face challenges in meeting growing demands.

Sustained chronic inflammation and altered childhood vaccine responses in children exposed to Zika virus.

BACKGROUND: Congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection leads to severe newborn abnormalities, but its long-term impact on childhood immunity is not well understood. This study aims to investigate the serum proteomics in children exposed to ZIKV during pregnancy to understand potential immunological consequences during early childhood. METHODS: The study included ZIKV-exposed infants (ZEI) at birth (n = 42) and children exposed to ZIKV (ZEC) at two years of age (n = 20) exposed to ZIKV during pregnancy, as well as healthy controls. Serum proteomic analysis was performed on these groups to assess inflammation and immune profiles. Additionally, antibody titres against two common childhood vaccines, DTaP and MMR, were measured in healthy controls (n = 50) and ZEC (n = 92) to evaluate vaccine-induced immunity. FINDINGS: Results showed elevated inflammation in ZEI with birth abnormalities. Among ZEC, despite most having normal clinical outcomes at two years, their serum proteomics indicated a bias towards Th1-mediated immune responses. Notably, ZEC displayed reduced anti-Diphtheria toxin and anti-Clostridium tetani IgG levels against DTaP and MMR vaccines. They also exhibited lower antibody titres particularly against Th2-biased DTaP vaccines, but not Th1-biased MMR vaccines. INTERPRETATION: In conclusion, the study highlights the long-term immunological consequences of congenital ZIKV exposure. Heightened inflammation was observed in ZEI with abnormalities at birth, while ZEC maintained a chronic Th1-biased immune profile. The impaired response to Th2-biased vaccines raises concerns about lasting effects of ZIKV exposure on immune responses. Consequently, there is a need for continued longitudinal clinical monitoring to identify potential immune-related complications arising from prenatal exposure to ZIKV. FUNDING: This work was partially funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).

The impact of Zika emergence in remote communities in northwestern Ecuador.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic in Latin America (2015-2016) has primarily been studied in urban centers, with less understanding of its impact on smaller rural communities. To address this gap, we analyzed ZIKV sero-epidemiology in six rural Ecuadorian communities (2018-2019) with varying access to a commercial hub. Seroprevalence ranged from 19% to 54% measured by NS1 blockade of binding ELISA. We observed a decline in ZIKV seroprevalence between 2018 and 2019 that was greater among younger populations, suggesting that the attack rates in the 2015-16 epidemic were significantly higher than our 2018 observations. These data indicate that the 2015-16 epidemic included significant transmission in rural and more remote settings. Our observations of high seroprevalence in our area of study highlights the importance of surveillance and research in rural areas lacking robust health systems to manage future Zika outbreaks and vaccine initiatives.

Immunological and Safety Considerations When Selecting the Dose Formulation of a Purified Inactivated Zika Virus Vaccine (PIZV).

We previously reported the first-in-human assessment of three doses (2, 5, and 10 µg) of purified inactivated Zika virus vaccine (PIZV or TAK-426) in the Phase 1 ZIK-101 study (NCT03343626). Here, we report dose selection based on extended safety and immunogenicity data (6 months post-vaccination) and discuss considerations (e.g., immunological, historic, flavivirus immunological cross-reactions) for selecting a Zika virus (ZIKV) vaccine dose formulation. TAK-426 dose selection was conducted at the first interim analysis, and was based on cumulative safety data from both flavivirus-naïve (up to ≥28 days post-dose PD2) and flavivirus-primed participants (up to ≥28 days PD1), and on immunogenicity data from flavivirus-naïve participants only (at 28 days PD1 and 28 days PD2). The safety profile from TAK-426 recipients was compared to placebo recipients. Immunogenicity was assessed by geometric mean titer ratios of neutralizing anti-ZIKV antibodies and differences in seroconversion rates. There was no significant difference in safety between the three TAK-426 doses. The 10 µg dose provided the earliest and strongest immune response (with close to 100% seroconversion and higher antibody titers PD1 in flavivirus-naïve participants), and was well tolerated with acceptable safety profiles in both flavivirus-naïve and flavivirus-primed participants; this dose was selected for further development.

Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) diversity and arbovirus detection across an urban and agricultural landscape.

Fragmented landscapes in Mexico, characterized by a mix of agricultural, urban, and native vegetation cover, presents unique ecological characteristics that shape the mosquito community composition and mosquito-borne diseases. The extent to which landscape influences mosquito populations and mosquito-borne diseases is still poorly understood. This work assessed the effect of landscape metrics -agriculture, urban, and native vegetation cover- on mosquito diversity and arbovirus presence in fragmented tropical deciduous forests in Central Mexico during 2021. Among the 21 mosquito species across six genera we identified, Culex quinquefasciatus was the most prevalent species, followed by Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Ae. epactius. Notably, areas with denser native vegetation cover displayed higher mosquito species richness, which could have an impact on phenomena such as the dilution effect. Zika and dengue virus were detected in 85% of captured species, with first reports of DENV in several Aedes species and ZIKV in multiple Aedes and Culex species. These findings underscore the necessity of expanding arbovirus surveillance beyond Ae. aegypti and advocate for a deeper understanding of vector ecology in fragmented landscapes to adequately address public health strategies.

Transcriptomic Signatures of Zika Virus Infection in Patients and a Cell Culture Model.

Zika virus (ZIKV), a re-emerging flavivirus, is associated with devasting developmental and neurological disease outcomes particularly in infants infected in utero. Towards understanding the molecular underpinnings of the unique ZIKV disease pathologies, numerous transcriptome-wide studies have been undertaken. Notably, these studies have overlooked the assimilation of RNA-seq analysis from ZIKV-infected patients with cell culture model systems. In this study we find that ZIKV-infection of human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, mirrored both the transcriptional and alternative splicing profiles from previously published RNA-seq data of peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from pediatric patients during early acute, late acute, and convalescent phases of ZIKV infection. Our analyses show that ZIKV infection in cultured cells correlates with transcriptional changes in patients, while the overlap in alternative splicing profiles was not as extensive. Overall, our data indicate that cell culture model systems support dissection of select molecular changes detected in patients and establishes the groundwork for future studies elucidating the biological implications of alternative splicing during ZIKV infection.

Cytoskeleton-associated gelsolin responds to the midgut distention process in saline meal-fed Aedes aegypti and affects arbovirus dissemination from the midgut.

The mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is the principal vector for several arboviruses. The mosquito midgut is the initial tissue that gets infected with an arbovirus acquired along with a blood meal from a vertebrate host. Blood meal ingestion leads to midgut tissue distention thereby increasing the pore size of the surrounding basal lamina. This allows newly synthesized virions to exit the midgut by traversing the distended basal lamina to infect secondary tissues of the mosquito. We conducted a quantitative label-free proteomic time course analysis with saline meal-fed Ae. aegypti females to identify host factors involved in midgut tissue distention. Around 2000 proteins were detected during each of the seven sampling time points and 164 of those were uniquely expressed. Forty-five of 97 differentially expressed proteins were upregulated during the 96-h time course and most of those were involved in cytoskeleton modulation, metabolic activity, and vesicle/vacuole formation. The F-actin-modulating Ae. aegypti (Aa)-gelsolin was selected for further functional studies. Stable knockout of Aa-gelsolin resulted in a mosquito line, which showed distorted actin filaments in midgut-associated tissues likely due to diminished F-actin processing by gelsolin. Zika virus dissemination from the midgut of these mosquitoes was diminished and delayed. The loss of Aa-gelsolin function was associated with an increased induction of apoptosis in midgut tissue indicating an involvement of Aa-gelsolin in apoptotic signaling in mosquitoes. Here, we used proteomics to discover a novel host factor, Aa-gelsolin, which affects the midgut escape barrier for arboviruses in mosquitoes and apoptotic signaling in the midgut.

Testicular damage without clinical manifestations in BALB/c mice experimentally infected with Zika virus.

In 2015-2016, the Zika virus (ZIKV) caused a major epidemic in the Americas, increasing cases of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. During this period, the discovery of ZIKV sexual transmission intensified studies on the impact of this virus on the reproductive organs. For this study, 2-month-old male BALB/c mice were infected with 1.26 x 106 PFU/mL of ZIKV in solution via the intravenous route. After three, seven, and fourteen days post-infection (DPI), blood and testicle samples were obtained to detect ZIKV RNA. The authors observed that the infected animals had slower weight gain than the control group. Viremia occurred only at 3DPI, and the ZIKV RNA was detected in one testis sample at 7DPI. The histopathological analysis of this organ revealed intense disorganization of the seminiferous tubules' structure, inflammatory infiltrate, necrosis, hemorrhage, fluid accumulation, congestion of blood vessels, and reduced sperm count. Ultrastructural analysis showed nuclear changes in tubule cells, activation of interstitial cells, and morphological changes in spermatozoa, in addition to fragmentation and decreased electron density of the genetic material of these cells. Thus, despite causing predominantly asymptomatic infections, ZIKV can cause significant subclinical and transient damage, including to male reproductive organs.

Recurrent neural network for the dynamics of Zika virus spreading.

Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs), a type of machine learning technique, have recently drawn a lot of interest in numerous fields, including epidemiology. Implementing public health interventions in the field of epidemiology depends on efficient modeling and outbreak prediction. Because RNNs can capture sequential dependencies in data, they have become highly effective tools in this field. In this paper, the use of RNNs in epidemic modeling is examined, with a focus on the extent to which they can handle the inherent temporal dynamics in the spread of diseases. The mathematical representation of epidemics requires taking time-dependent variables into account, such as the rate at which infections spread and the long-term effects of interventions. The goal of this study is to use an intelligent computing solution based on RNNs to provide numerical performances and interpretations for the SEIR nonlinear system based on the propagation of the Zika virus (SEIRS-PZV) model. The four patient dynamics, namely susceptible patients S(y), exposed patients admitted in a hospital E(y), the fraction of infective individuals I(y), and recovered patients R(y), are represented by the epidemic version of the nonlinear system, or the SEIR model. SEIRS-PZV is represented by ordinary differential equations (ODEs), which are then solved by the Adams method using the Mathematica software to generate a dataset. The dataset was used as an output for the RNN to train the model and examine results such as regressions, correlations, error histograms, etc. For RNN, we used 100% to train the model with 15 hidden layers and a delay of 2 seconds. The input for the RNN is a time series sequence from 0 to 5, with a step size of 0.05. In the end, we compared the approximated solution with the exact solution by plotting them on the same graph and generating the absolute error plot for each of the 4 cases of SEIRS-PZV. Predictions made by the model appeared to be become more accurate when the mean squared error (MSE) decreased. An increased fit to the observed data was suggested by this decrease in the MSE, which suggested that the variance between the model's predicted values and the actual values was dropping. A minimal absolute error almost equal to zero was obtained, which further supports the usefulness of the suggested strategy. A small absolute error shows the degree to which the model's predictions matches the ground truth values, thus indicating the level of accuracy and precision for the model's output.

Pregnant women's perceptions on Information Sources on Zika Virus: a qualitative study.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic had a sanitary, psychosocial, and economic impact on individuals of reproductive age. The primary concern revolved around infection during pregnancy due to possible vertical transmission and its association with adverse fetal and infant outcomes, known as Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). This qualitative study employs phenomenology and grounded theory. This study includes interviews with 98 women, some pregnant during the ZIKV epidemic in Brazil, Colombia, and Puerto Rico, who had children with CZS or without diagnosed neurological impairment. Additionally, the study included a group of women who were pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic in these same countries. In both groups, interviewees had varying levels of knowledge about ZIKV. The study found that messages conveyed through the media tended to be alarmist, in contrast to the information provided by healthcare professionals, which was considered more trustworthy. Pregnant women during the ZIKV epidemic reported receiving their ZIKV and CSZ infection diagnoses late, either during or after childbirth. The study underscores the needs of pregnant women in high-risk scenarios, the importance of health education processes, and the necessity to reinforce communication and continuing education.

A epidemia do vírus Zika (ZIKV) teve impacto sanitário, psicossocial e econômico sobre pessoas em idade reprodutiva. A principal preocupação foi a infecção durante a gravidez devido a possível transmissão vertical e sua associação com resultados fetais e infantis adversos, conhecida como síndrome congênita associada à infecção pelo Vírus Zika (SCZ). Este estudo qualitativo utiliza a fenomenologia e a teoria fundamentada. O estudo inclui entrevistas com 98 mulheres, parte grávida durante a epidemia de ZIKV no Brasil, Colômbia e Porto Rico e que tiveram filhos com SCZ ou sem comprometimento neurológico diagnosticado. Além disso, o estudo inclui um grupo de mulheres grávidas durante a pandemia de COVID-19 nos mesmos países. Em ambos os grupos, as entrevistadas tinham diferentes níveis de conhecimento sobre ZIKV. O estudo constatou que as mensagens veiculadas por meio da mídia eram alarmistas; em contraste com as informações fornecidas por profissionais de saúde, consideradas mais confiáveis. Mulheres gestantes durante a epidemia do ZIKV relataram ter recebido seu diagnóstico de infecção por ZIKV e SCZ tardiamente ou após o parto. O estudo destaca as necessidades das mulheres grávidas em cenários de alto risco, a importância de processos de educação em saúde e a necessidade de reforçar a comunicação e a educação continuada.

Urban arbovirus exposure in blood donations from an endemic area of Brazil.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In Brazil, urban arboviruses, such as dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV), constitute a major public health problem, and due to their endemicity and asymptomatic cases, they pose a potential threat to blood donations. Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil, has been impacted by extensive DENV epidemics over the last 30 years and, after 2015, by CHIKV and ZIKV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Urban arboviruses DENV, ZIKV and CHIKV were investigated in blood donations (n = 778) at the State Institute of Hematology, HEMORIO (RJ) from 2019 to 2022 by serological and molecular methods. RESULTS: An overall arbovirus exposure was observed in 26.1% of the blood donations. Anti-DENV IgM was detected in 4.0% of samples and two donations were DENV NS1 positive. Positive anti-CHIKV IgM was observed in 4.7% of the donations. Co-detection of anti-CHIKV IgM and anti-DENV IgM was observed in 1.0% of donors, and CHIKV prevalence was 21.3%. All blood donations tested were negative for the DENV, ZIKV and CHIKV RNA. CONCLUSION: IgM seroprevalence to the arboviruses analyzed here is an indicator of recent infection in asymptomatic donors, showing that the population of blood donors can be a vehicle for new infections, especially during epidemic periods.