TITLE:
Persistent Zika Virus Infection Associated with Early Fetal Demise: A Case Report
AUTHORS:
Janice Pérez-Padilla, Gabriela Paz-Bailey, Dana Meaney-Delman, Kate Doyle, Joy Gary, Dania M. Rodriguez, Julu Bhatnagar, Nicole M. Pérez-Rodriguez, Sara Montalvo, Luisa Alvarado, Tyler M. Sharp
KEYWORDS:
Zika, Pregnancy Outcomes, ZIKV Persistence
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.9 No.5,
May
24,
2019
ABSTRACT: Background: Infection with Zika virus (ZIKV) during
pregnancy is known to cause birth defects and could also be linked to pregnancy
loss. Case: A pregnant woman in
Puerto Rico contracted ZIKV at 16 weeks gestation. ZIKV
RNA persisted in serum from her initial test at 16 weeks through 24 weeks
gestation, when fetal demise occurred, and was detected in placental
tissue. Conclusion: Prolonged detection of ZIKV RNA in maternal serum
was associated with ZIKV RNA detection in the placenta of a patient who
experienced fetal demise. While detection of placenta ZIKV RNA does not
establish that ZIKV conclusively caused the demise, these findings support
emerging evidence that the placenta may
serve as a reservoir for ZIKV, which may be associated with prolonged detection
of ZIKV RNA in serum.