Postmortem Findings for 7 Neonates with Congenital Zika Virus Infection

Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Jul;23(7):1164-1167. doi: 10.3201/eid2307.162019. Epub 2017 Jul 15.

Abstract

Postmortem examination of 7 neonates with congenital Zika virus infection in Brazil revealed microcephaly, ventriculomegaly, dystrophic calcifications, and severe cortical neuronal depletion in all and arthrogryposis in 6. Other findings were leptomeningeal and brain parenchymal inflammation and pulmonary hypoplasia and lymphocytic infiltration in liver and lungs. Findings confirmed virus neurotropism and multiple organ infection.

Keywords: Brazil; Zika virus; autopsy; congenital; microcephaly; neonates; postmortem; viruses.

MeSH terms

  • Autopsy
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / virology
  • Brazil
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Microcephaly
  • Phenotype
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious*
  • Zika Virus Infection / congenital*
  • Zika Virus Infection / diagnosis*
  • Zika Virus Infection / virology
  • Zika Virus* / classification
  • Zika Virus* / genetics