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Neonatal surveillance for congenital Zika infection during the 2016 microcephaly outbreak in Salvador, Brazil: Zika virus detection in asymptomatic newborns
Author(s) -
Oliveira João V.,
Carvalho Tereza C.X.,
Giovanetti Marta,
Jesus Jaqueline G.,
Santos Cleiton S.,
Pessoa Lorena B.,
Magalhães Filho Cláudio F.Q.,
Lima Jéssica G.S.,
Carvalho Daniel A.X.,
Figueiredo Eduardo M.,
Biron Ana Carolina,
Santos Daiana C.,
Viana Paloma,
Duarte Alan O.,
Pessoa Rosana,
Souza Gloryane B.,
Calcagno Juan I.,
Lima Fernanda W.M.,
Alcantara Luiz C.J.,
Siqueira Isadora C.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.13042
Subject(s) - zika virus , microcephaly , serology , medicine , outbreak , pediatrics , asymptomatic , virology , antibody , virus , immunology
Objective To identify newborns with congenital Zika infection ( CZI ) at a maternity hospital in Salvador, Brazil, during the 2016 microcephaly outbreak. Methods A prospective study enrolled microcephalic and normocephalic newborns with suspected CZI between January and December 2016. Serology (immunoglobulins IgM and IgG) and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction ( RT ‐ qPCR ) for the Zika virus were performed. Demographic and clinical characteristics of newborns with and without microcephaly were compared. Results Of the 151 newborns enrolled, 32 (21.2%) were classified as microcephalic. The majority of these cases were born between January and May 2016. IgM and IgG Zika virus antibodies were detected in 5 (23.8%) and 17 (80.9%) microcephalic newborn blood samples, respectively. Six (24%) microcephalic newborns tested positive for Zika virus by RT ‐ qPCR in urine or placenta samples. Thirteen (11.8%) normocephalic newborns also tested positive for Zika virus by PCR in urine, plasma, or placenta samples, while IgM antibodies against Zika were detected in 4 (4.2%) others. Conclusions Identification of 17 normocephalic CZI cases, confirmed by IgM serology or RT ‐ qPCR for Zika virus, provides evidence that CZI can present asymptomatically at birth. This finding highlights the need for prenatal and neonatal screening for Zika virus in endemic regions.