Infection of the maternal-fetal interface and vertical transmission following low-dose inoculation of pregnant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with an African-lineage Zika virus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection can result in birth defects, including malformations in the fetal brain and visual system. There are two distinct genetic lineages of ZIKV: African and Asian. Asian-lineage ZIKVs have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in humans; however, recent evidence from experimental models suggests that African-lineage viruses can also be vertically transmitted and cause fetal harm.

Methodology/principal findings

To evaluate the pathway of vertical transmission of African-lineage ZIKV, we inoculated nine pregnant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) subcutaneously with 44 plaque-forming units of a ZIKV strain from Senegal, (ZIKV-DAK). Dams were inoculated either at gestational day 30 or 45. Following maternal inoculation, pregn

SUBMITTER: Koenig MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10159132 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature