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Zika Virus Infectious Cell Culture System and the In Vitro Prophylactic Effect of Interferons
Published on: August 23, 2016
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Zika Virus: Pathology From the Pandemic
Jana M Ritter, Roosecelis B Martines, Sherif R Zaki1
1From the Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
|October 6, 2016
Summary
Zika virus (ZIKV) causes characteristic, though not specific, tissue pathology. Congenital Zika syndrome involves direct viral neural infection, while Guillain-Barré syndrome results from an immune response. Diagnostic pathology is crucial for understanding ZIKV.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Virology
- Pathology
Background:
- The growing number of Zika virus (ZIKV) infections reveals an expanding spectrum of clinical manifestations in both adults and congenitally infected infants.
- Understanding the tissue pathology of ZIKV disease is essential for insights into pathogenesis, diagnosis, and potential therapeutic strategies.
- Defining the pathological characteristics aids in managing ZIKV infections and their associated complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical syndromes and associated pathology of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection.
- To explore the implications of pathological findings in understanding ZIKV disease pathogenesis.
- To evaluate the utility of pathology specimens for diagnosing ZIKV infection.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of published articles from PubMed.
- Analysis of pathological findings from cases submitted to the CDC's Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch.
- Synthesis of information on ZIKV-related syndromes and their pathological underpinnings.
Main Results:
- Pathological findings in ZIKV infection are distinctive but not unique to the virus.
- Congenital Zika syndrome pathology stems from direct viral invasion of neural tissues.
- Guillain-Barré syndrome pathology is likely an immune-mediated response post-ZIKV infection.
Conclusions:
- Fetal and placental pathology specimens are valuable for ZIKV diagnosis using molecular and immunohistochemical methods.
- The significance of detecting ZIKV in placentas from later-term normal pregnancies requires further investigation.
- Long-term postnatal effects of late gestational ZIKV exposure are yet to be determined.

