Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 65 in total

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  1. Zika in India and the need for transparent reporting
    Mallhi TH, Khan YH, Tanveer N, Khan AH, Bukhsh A
    Travel Med Infect Dis, 2017 Jul-Aug;18:75-76.
    PMID: 28709958 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2017.07.005
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection*
  2. Fulltext A systematic bioinformatics approach for large-scale identification and characterization of host-pathogen shared sequences
    James SA, Ong HS, Hari R, Khan AM
    BMC Genomics, 2021 Sep 28;22(Suppl 3):700.
    PMID: 34583643 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07657-4
    BACKGROUND: Biology has entered the era of big data with the advent of high-throughput omics technologies. Biological databases provide public access to petabytes of data and information facilitating knowledge discovery. Over the years, sequence data of pathogens has seen a large increase in the number of records, given the relatively small genome size and their important role as infectious and symbiotic agents. Humans are host to numerous pathogenic diseases, such as that by viruses, many of which are responsible for high mortality and morbidity. The interaction between pathogens and humans over the evolutionary history has resulted in sharing of sequences, with important biological and evolutionary implications.

    RESULTS: This study describes a large-scale, systematic bioinformatics approach for identification and characterization of shared sequences between the host and pathogen. An application of the approach is demonstrated through identification and characterization of the Flaviviridae-human share-ome. A total of 2430 nonamers represented the Flaviviridae-human share-ome with 100% identity. Although the share-ome represented a small fraction of the repertoire of Flaviviridae (~ 0.12%) and human (~ 0.013%) non-redundant nonamers, the 2430 shared nonamers mapped to 16,946 Flaviviridae and 7506 human non-redundant protein sequences. The shared nonamer sequences mapped to 125 species of Flaviviridae, including several with unclassified genus. The majority (~ 68%) of the shared sequences mapped to Hepacivirus C species; West Nile, dengue and Zika viruses of the Flavivirus genus accounted for ~ 11%, ~ 7%, and ~ 3%, respectively, of the Flaviviridae protein sequences (16,946) mapped by the share-ome. Further characterization of the share-ome provided important structural-functional insights to Flaviviridae-human interactions.

    CONCLUSION: Mapping of the host-pathogen share-ome has important implications for the design of vaccines and drugs, diagnostics, disease surveillance and the discovery of unknown, potential host-pathogen interactions. The generic workflow presented herein is potentially applicable to a variety of pathogens, such as of viral, bacterial or parasitic origin.

    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection*
  3. Fulltext Zika virus and its potential re-emergence in Malaysia
    Sam JI, Chan YF, Vythilingam I, Wan Sulaiman WY
    Med J Malaysia, 2016 04;71(2):66-8.
    PMID: 27326944 MyJurnal
    Zika virus (ZIKV) has re-emerged to cause explosive epidemics in the Pacific and Latin America, and appears to be associated with severe neurological complications including microcephaly in babies. ZIKV is transmitted to humans by Aedes mosquitoes, principally Ae. aegypti, and there is historical evidence of ZIKV circulation in Southeast Asia. It is therefore clear that Malaysia is at risk of similar outbreaks. Local and international guidelines are available for surveillance, diagnostics, and management of exposed and infected individuals. ZIKV is the latest arbovirus to have spread globally beyond its initial restricted niche, and is unlikely to be the last. Innovative new methods for surveillance and control of vectors are needed to target mosquito-borne diseases as a whole.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection/epidemiology*; Zika Virus Infection/transmission
  4. Fulltext Association between Viral Infections and Risk of Autistic Disorder: An Overview
    Shuid AN, Jayusman PA, Shuid N, Ismail J, Kamal Nor N, Mohamed IN
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021 Mar 10;18(6).
    PMID: 33802042 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18062817
    Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition of the central nervous system (CNS) that presents with severe communication problems, impairment of social interactions, and stereotypic behaviours. Emerging studies indicate possible associations between viral infections and neurodegenerative and neurobehavioural conditions including autism. Viral infection during critical periods of early in utero neurodevelopment may lead to increased risk of autism in the offspring. This review is aimed at highlighting the association between viral infections, including viruses similar to COVID-19, and the aetiology of autism. A literature search was conducted using Pubmed, Ovid/Medline, and Google Scholar database. Relevant search terms included "rubella and autism", "cytomegalovirus and autism", "influenza virus and autism", "Zika virus and autism", "COVID-19 and autism". Based on the search terms, a total of 141 articles were obtained and studies on infants or children with congenital or perinatal viral infection and autistic behaviour were evaluated. The possible mechanisms by which viral infections could lead to autism include direct teratogenic effects and indirect effects of inflammation or maternal immune activation on the developing brain. Brain imaging studies have shown that the ensuing immune response from these viral infections could lead to disruption of the development of brain regions and structures. Hence, long-term follow up is necessary for infants whose mothers report an inflammatory event due to viral infection at any time during pregnancy to monitor for signs of autism. Research into the role of viral infection in the development of ASD may be one avenue of improving ASD outcomes in the future. Early screening and diagnosis to detect, and maybe even prevent ASD are essential to reduce the burden of this condition.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection*
  5. Monitoring Changes in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells upon Viral Infection Using Impedance-Based Real-Time Cell Analysis
    Wong JE, Zainal N, AbuBakar S, Tan KK
    J Vis Exp, 2023 May 05.
    PMID: 37212555 DOI: 10.3791/64887
    Endothelial cells line the inner surface of all blood and lymphatic vessels, creating a semi-permeable barrier regulating fluid and solute exchange between blood or lymph and their surrounding tissues. The ability of a virus to cross the endothelial barrier is an important mechanism that facilitates virus dissemination in the human body. Many viruses are reported to alter endothelial permeability and/or cause endothelial cell barrier disruption during infection, which is able to cause vascular leakage. The current study describes a real-time cell analysis (RTCA) protocol, using a commercial real-time cell analyzer to monitor endothelial integrity and permeability changes during Zika virus (ZIKV) infection of the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The impedance signals recorded before and after ZIKV infection were translated to cell index (CI) values and analyzed. The RTCA protocol allows the detection of transient effects in the form of cell morphological changes during a viral infection. This assay could also be useful for studying changes in the vascular integrity of HUVECs in other experimental setups.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection*
  6. Fulltext Phylogenetic surveillance of travel-related Zika virus infections through whole-genome sequencing methods
    Kamelian K, Montoya V, Olmstead A, Dong W, Harrigan R, Morshed M, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2019 Nov 11;9(1):16433.
    PMID: 31712570 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52613-8
    In 2018, the World Health Organization identified the Zika virus (ZIKV) as a pathogen that should be prioritized for public health research due to its epidemic potential. In this study, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of travel-acquired ZIKV infections was used to examine the limitations of phylogenetic analysis. WGS and phylogenetic analysis were performed to investigate geographic clustering of samples from five Canadians with travel-acquired ZIKV infections and to assess the limitations of phylogenetic analysis of ZIKV sequences using a phylogenetic cluster approach. Genomic variability of ZIKV samples was assessed and for context, compared with hepatitis C virus (HCV) samples. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the suspected region of ZIKV infection for one of five samples and one sample failed to cluster with sequences from its suspected country of infection. Travel-acquired ZIKV samples depicted low genomic variability relative to HCV samples. A floating patristic distance threshold classified all pre-2000 ZIKV sequences into separate clusters, while only Cambodian, Peruvian, Malaysian, and South Korean sequences were similarly classifiable. While phylogenetic analysis of ZIKV data can identify the broad geographical region of ZIKV infection, ZIKV's low genomic variability is likely to limit precise interpretations of phylogenetic analysis of the origins of travel-related cases.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection/epidemiology*; Zika Virus Infection/transmission*; Zika Virus Infection/virology*
  7. Fulltext Zika virus in Asia
    Duong V, Dussart P, Buchy P
    Int J Infect Dis, 2017 Jan;54:121-128.
    PMID: 27939768 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.11.420
    Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging mosquito-borne virus that was first isolated from a sentinel rhesus monkey in the Zika Forest in Uganda in 1947. In Asia, the virus was isolated in Malaysia from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in 1966, and the first human infections were reported in 1977 in Central Java, Indonesia. In this review, all reported cases of ZIKV infection in Asia as of September 1, 2016 are summarized and some of the hypotheses that could currently explain the apparently low incidence of Zika cases in Asia are explored.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection/epidemiology*; Zika Virus Infection/transmission; Zika Virus Infection/virology*
  8. Fulltext Entomological Surveillance Associated with Human Zika Cases in Miri Sarawak, Malaysia
    Ali R, Azmi RA, Wasi Ahmad N, Abd Hadi A, Muhamed KA, Rasli R, et al.
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2020 May;102(5):964-970.
    PMID: 32228777 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0339
    Two confirmed human cases of Zika virus (ZIKV) were reported in the district of Miri, Sarawak, in 2016. Following that, a mosquito-based ZIKV surveillance study was conducted within 200-m radius from the case houses. Mosquito surveillance was conducted using five different methods, that is, biogents sentinel mosquito (BG) sentinel trap, modified sticky ovitrap, resting catch, larval surveillance, and conventional ovitrap. A total of 527 and 390 mosquito samples were obtained from the case houses in two localities, namely, Kampung Lopeng and Taman Shang Ri La, Miri, Sarawak, respectively. All mosquitoes collected were identified, which consisted of 11 species. Aedes albopictus, both the adult and larval stages, was the dominant species. Resting catch method obtained the highest number of adult mosquitoes (67%), whereas ovitrap showed the highest catch for larval mosquitoes (84%). Zika virus was detected in both adults and larvae of Ae. albopictus together with adults of Culex gelidus, and Culex quinquefasciatus using the real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. It was noteworthy that Ae. albopictus positive with ZIKV were caught and obtained from four types of collection method. By contrast, Cx. gelidus and Culex quinquefasciatus adults collected from sticky ovitraps were also found positive with ZIKV. This study reveals vital information regarding the potential vectors of ZIKV and the possibility of transovarian transmission of the virus in Malaysia. These findings will be essentials for vector control program managers to devise preparedness and contingency plans of prevention and control of the arboviral disease.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection/etiology; Zika Virus Infection/epidemiology*; Zika Virus Infection/transmission
  9. Fulltext Diagnosis and management of Guillain-Barré syndrome in ten steps
    Leonhard SE, Mandarakas MR, Gondim FAA, Bateman K, Ferreira MLB, Cornblath DR, et al.
    Nat Rev Neurol, 2019 Nov;15(11):671-683.
    PMID: 31541214 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-019-0250-9
    Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare, but potentially fatal, immune-mediated disease of the peripheral nerves and nerve roots that is usually triggered by infections. The incidence of GBS can therefore increase during outbreaks of infectious diseases, as was seen during the Zika virus epidemics in 2013 in French Polynesia and 2015 in Latin America. Diagnosis and management of GBS can be complicated as its clinical presentation and disease course are heterogeneous, and no international clinical guidelines are currently available. To support clinicians, especially in the context of an outbreak, we have developed a globally applicable guideline for the diagnosis and management of GBS. The guideline is based on current literature and expert consensus, and has a ten-step structure to facilitate its use in clinical practice. We first provide an introduction to the diagnostic criteria, clinical variants and differential diagnoses of GBS. The ten steps then cover early recognition and diagnosis of GBS, admission to the intensive care unit, treatment indication and selection, monitoring and treatment of disease progression, prediction of clinical course and outcome, and management of complications and sequelae.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection/diagnosis; Zika Virus Infection/epidemiology; Zika Virus Infection/therapy
  10. Fulltext Zika - A Pandemic in Progress?
    Mohamad Idris F
    Malays J Med Sci, 2016 Mar;23(2):70-2.
    PMID: 27547117
    The emerging threat of Zika virus outbreak with associated neurological abnormalities needs to be assessed in perspective in terms of its ability to cause a pandemic. This article attempts to throw some light on the issue.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection
  11. Highly sensitive and specific graphene/TiO2 impedimetric immunosensor based on plant-derived tetravalent envelope glycoprotein domain III (EDIII) probe antigen for dengue diagnosis
    Siew QY, Pang EL, Loh HS, Tan MTT
    Biosens Bioelectron, 2021 Mar 15;176:112895.
    PMID: 33358432 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2020.112895
    This study reports on the development of a novel impedimetric immunosensor design using plant-derived antigenic glycoprotein for the detection of dengue virus (DENV) IgG antibodies. The electrochemical immunosensor platform was constructed using screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with graphene/titanium dioxide (G/TiO2) nanocomposite to improve the electrode in terms electrochemical performance and specific surface area. A plant-derived dengue envelope domain III (EDIII) protein was used as the antigenic probe protein in this immunosensing strategy. Under optimised sensing conditions, the immunosensor demonstrated high sensitivity towards DENV IgG in a wide linear working range (62.5-2000 ng/mL), with a limit of detection of 2.81 ng/mL. The immunosensor showed high specificity for discriminating DENV IgG against antibodies of other infectious disease, including the closely related Zika virus (ZIKV). The reliability of the immunosensor in serological diagnosis was verified by challenging the immunosensor against serum samples, compared to conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). As shown by its remarkable performance throughout the study, the devised immunosensor is proposed as a reliable and practical diagnostic tool for the serological detection of dengue in realistic applications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection*
  12. Zika Virus Vaccine: The Current State of Affairs and Challenges Posed by Antibody-Dependent Enhancement Reaction
    Cheong HC, Cheok YY, Chan YT, Sulaiman S, Looi CY, Alshanon AF, et al.
    Viral Immunol, 2022 Nov;35(9):586-596.
    PMID: 36301533 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2022.0082
    Infection caused by the Zika virus (ZIKV) can lead to serious neurological complications such as microcephaly in neonates. At present, no approved ZIKV vaccine is available, but few vaccine candidates are undergoing clinical trial. One major challenge faced is antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) reaction that may provoke severe outcome in subsequent infection by ZIKV or other flaviviruses. Thus, more efforts should be dedicated to understanding ADE in designing a safe and effective vaccine to minimize the consequence of the potentially fatal infection's complications and to tackle potential ZIKV reemergence. This review discusses different types of ZIKV vaccine candidates that are currently underway in various stages of preclinical and clinical evaluations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection*
  13. Novel development of Lecanicillium lecanii-based granules as a platform against malarial vector Anopheles culicifacies
    Sogan N, Kala S, Kapoor N, Nagpal BN, Ramlal A, Nautiyal A
    World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2023 Apr 01;39(6):142.
    PMID: 37004584 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03570-y
    Mosquitoes are infectious vectors for a wide range of pathogens and parasites thereby transmitting several diseases including malaria, dengue, Zika, Japanese encephalitis and chikungunya which pose a major public health concern. Mostly synthetic insecticides are usually applied as a primary control strategy to manage vector-borne diseases. However excessive and non-judicious usage of such chemically derived insecticides has led to serious environmental and health issues owing to their biomagnification ability and increased toxicity towards non-target organisms. In this context, many such bioactive compounds originating from entomopathogenic microbes serve as an alternative strategy and environmentally benign tool for vector control. In the present paper, the entomopathogenic fungus, Lecanicillium lecanii (LL) was processed to make the granules. Developed 4% LL granules have been characterized using the technique of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The developed formulation was also subjected to an accelerated temperature study at 40 °C and was found to be stable for 3 months. Further, GCMS of the L. lecanii was also performed to screen the potential biomolecules present. The developed formulation was found to be lethal against Anopheles culicifacies with an LC50 value of 11.836 µg/mL. The findings from SEM and histopathology also substantiated the mortality effects. Further, the SEM EDX (energy dispersive X-ray) studies revealed that the treated larvae have lower nitrogen content which is correlated to a lower level of chitin whereas the control ones has higher chitin content and healthy membranes. The developed LL granule formulation exhibited high toxicity against Anopheles mosquitoes. The granule formulations can be used as an effective biocontrol strategy against malaria-causing mosquitoes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection*
  14. Fulltext Viral Protein Accumulation of Zika Virus Variants Links with Regulation of Innate Immunity for Differential Control of Viral Replication, Spread, and Response to Interferon
    Lu AY, Gustin A, Newhouse D, Gale M
    J Virol, 2023 May 31;97(5):e0198222.
    PMID: 37162358 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01982-22
    Asian lineage Zika virus (ZIKV) strains emerged globally, causing outbreaks linked with critical clinical disease outcomes unless the virus is effectively restricted by host immunity. We have previously shown that retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I) senses ZIKV to trigger innate immunity to direct interferon (IFN) production and antiviral responses that can control ZIKV infection. However, ZIKV proteins have been demonstrated to antagonize IFN. Here, we conducted in vitro analyses to assess how divergent prototypic ZIKV variants differ in virologic properties, innate immune regulation, and infection outcome. We comparatively assessed African lineage ZIKV/Dakar/1984/ArD41519 (ZIKV/Dakar) and Asian lineage ZIKV/Malaysia/1966/P6740 (ZIKV/Malaysia) in a human epithelial cell infection model. De novo viral sequence determination identified amino acid changes within the ZIKV/Dakar genome compared to ZIKV/Malaysia. Viral growth analyses revealed that ZIKV/Malaysia accumulated viral proteins and genome copies earlier and to higher levels than ZIKV/Dakar. Both ZIKV strains activated RIG-I/IFN regulatory factor (IRF3) and NF-κB pathways to induce inflammatory cytokine expression and types I and III IFNs. However, ZIKV/Malaysia, but not ZIKV/Dakar, potently blocked downstream IFN signaling. Remarkably, ZIKV/Dakar protein accumulation and genome replication were rescued in RIG-I knockout (KO) cells late in acute infection, resulting in ZIKV/Dakar-mediated blockade of IFN signaling. We found that RIG-I signaling specifically restricts viral protein accumulation late in acute infection where early accumulation of viral proteins in infected cells confers enhanced ability to limit IFN signaling, promoting viral replication and spread. Our results demonstrate that RIG-I-mediated innate immune signaling imparts restriction of ZIKV protein accumulation, which permits IFN signaling and antiviral actions controlling ZIKV infection. IMPORTANCE ZIKV isolates are classified under African or Asian lineages. Infection with emerging Asian lineage-derived ZIKV strains is associated with increased incidence of neurological symptoms that were not previously reported during infection with African or preemergent Asian lineage viruses. In this study, we utilized in vitro models to compare the virologic properties of and innate immune responses to two prototypic ZIKV strains from distinct lineages: African lineage ZIKV/Dakar and Asian lineage ZIKV/Malaysia. Compared to ZIKV/Dakar, ZIKV/Malaysia accumulates viral proteins earlier, replicates to higher levels, and robustly blocks IFN signaling during acute infection. Early accumulation of ZIKV/Malaysia NS5 protein confers enhanced ability to antagonize IFN signaling, dampening innate immune responses to promote viral spread. Our data identify the kinetics of viral protein accumulation as a major regulator of host innate immunity, influencing host-mediated control of ZIKV replication and spread. Importantly, these findings provide a novel framework for evaluating the virulence of emerging variants.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection*
  15. Fulltext Little Evidence of Zika Virus Infection in Wild Long-Tailed Macaques, Peninsular Malaysia
    Chua CL, Chan YF, Andu ESGS, Rovie-Ryan JJ, Sitam FT, Verasahib K, et al.
    Emerg Infect Dis, 2019 02;25(2):374-376.
    PMID: 30666941 DOI: 10.3201/eid2502.180258
    We tested a sample of 234 wild long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) trapped in Peninsular Malaysia in 2009, 2010, and 2016 for Zika virus RNA and antibodies. None were positive for RNA, and only 1.3% were seropositive for neutralizing antibodies. Long-tailed macaques are unlikely to be reservoirs for Zika virus in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection/veterinary*
  16. Isolation of Zika virus from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Malaysia
    Marchette NJ, Garcia R, Rudnick A
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1969 May;18(3):411-5.
    PMID: 4976739
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection/epidemiology; Zika Virus Infection/virology
  17. Zika virus in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia: are there health risks for travelers?
    Dinh TC, Bac ND, Minh LB, Ngoc VTN, Pham VH, Vo HL, et al.
    Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 2019 Sep;38(9):1585-1590.
    PMID: 31044332 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-019-03563-6
    Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia have reported first cases of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection since 2010 (Cambodia) and 2016 (Vietnam and Laos). One case of ZIKV-related microcephaly was recognized among a hundred infected cases in these areas, raising a great concern about the health risk related to this virus infection. At least 5 cases of ZIKV infection among travelers to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia were recorded. It is noticeable that ZIKV in these areas can cause birth defects. This work aims to discuss the current epidemics of ZIKV in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia and update the infection risk of ZIKV for travelers to these areas.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection/complications; Zika Virus Infection/epidemiology*
  18. Zika virus modulates blood-brain barrier of brain microvascular endothelial cells
    Ismail AA, Mahboob T, Samudi Raju C, Sekaran SD
    Trop Biomed, 2019 Dec 01;36(4):888-897.
    PMID: 33597462
    Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne Flaviviruses. ZIKV is known to cause birth defect in pregnant women, especially microcephaly in the fetus. Hence, more study is required to understand the infection of Zika virus towards human brain microvascular endothelial cells (MECs). In this study, brain MECs were infected with ZIKV at MOI of 1 and 5 in vitro. The changes in barrier function and membrane permeability of ZIKV-infected brain MECs were determined using electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) system followed by gene expression of ZIKV-infected brain MECs at 24 hours post infection using one-color gene expression microarray. The ECIS results demonstrated that ZIKV infection enhances vascular leakage by increasing cell membrane permeability via alteration of brain MECs barrier function. This was further supported by high expression of proinflammatory cytokine genes (lnc-IL6-2, TNFAIP1 and TNFAIP6), adhesion molecules (CERCAM and ESAM) and growth factor (FIGF). Overall, findings of this study revealed that ZIKV infection could alter the barrier function of brain MECs by altering adhesion molecules and inflammatory response.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection/pathology*; Zika Virus Infection/virology
  19. Zika Virus Infection: Current Concerns and Perspectives
    Maharajan MK, Ranjan A, Chu JF, Foo WL, Chai ZX, Lau EY, et al.
    Clin Rev Allergy Immunol, 2016 Dec;51(3):383-394.
    PMID: 27236440
    The Zika virus outbreaks highlight the growing importance need for a reliable, specific and rapid diagnostic device to detect Zika virus, as it is often recognized as a mild disease without being identified. Many Zika virus infection cases have been misdiagnosed or underreported because of the non-specific clinical presentation. The aim of this review was to provide a critical and comprehensive overview of the published peer-reviewed evidence related to clinical presentations, various diagnostic methods and modes of transmission of Zika virus infection, as well as potential therapeutic targets to combat microcephaly. Zika virus is mainly transmitted through bites from Aedes aegypti mosquito. It can also be transmitted through blood, perinatally and sexually. Pregnant women are advised to postpone or avoid travelling to areas where active Zika virus transmission is reported, as this infection is directly linked to foetal microcephaly. Due to the high prevalence of Guillain-Barre syndrome and microcephaly in the endemic area, it is vital to confirm the diagnosis of Zika virus. Zika virus infection had been declared as a public health emergency and of international concern by the World Health Organisation. Governments and agencies should play an important role in terms of investing time and resources to fundamentally understand this infection so that a vaccine can be developed besides raising awareness.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection/diagnosis*; Zika Virus Infection/drug therapy; Zika Virus Infection/transmission; Zika Virus Infection/virology*
  20. Fulltext Serological Evidence of Zika Virus Infection in Febrile Patients and Healthy Blood Donors in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, 2017-2018
    Ngwe Tun MM, Mori D, Sabri SB, Kugan O, Shaharom SB, John J, et al.
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2021 Nov 22;106(2):601-606.
    PMID: 34814105 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0802
    Several Zika virus (ZIKV) seroprevalence studies have been conducted in Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Americas, and the Caribbean. However, studies on ZIKV seroprevalence are limited in Malaysia though several studies have shown that the disease is endemic in the Malaysian state of Sabah. To evaluate the seroprevalence of ZIKV infection, 818 serum samples were collected from febrile patients and healthy blood donors from the Kudat and Kota Kinabalu districts in Sabah from 2017 to 2018. They were screened for ZIKV infection by IgM and IgG ELISA, and positive ZIKV IgM samples were subjected to a 90% neutralization test for confirmation. Twenty-four (6% [95% CI 4 to 8]) confirmed and two (0.5% [95% CI 0.13 to 1.8]) probable ZIKV infections were detected among 400 febrile illness patients. Of 418 healthy blood donor samples, six (1.4% [95% CI 0.65 to 3]) were determined as confirmed ZIKV infections and six (1.4% [95% CI 0.65 to 3]) indicated probable ZIKV infection. This is the first study on the seroprevalence of ZIKV infections among patients and healthy blood donors in Sabah. Compared with previous studies in Malaysia, this study shows that the incidence of ZIKV infection has increased. It also suggests that a sero-surveillance system is essential to determine the circulation of ZIKV in Sabah, Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zika Virus Infection/blood*; Zika Virus Infection/diagnosis*; Zika Virus Infection/epidemiology; Zika Virus Infection/prevention & control
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