Birth Defects Associated With Congenital Zika Virus Infection in Mexico

Abstract

Part of the work agenda of international health authorities is to define the clinical spectrum of the congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) in different territories. We describe the clinical variability that gave rise to the suspicion of CZS in 3 newborn patients in the south of Mexico with active transmission of Zika. All of them presented Zika RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and positive antibodies for IgM by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. None of the mothers tested positive for active viremia, only one mother had Zika-symptoms and titers of Zika-positive IgM. Intrauterine growth restriction, brain disruption sequence, and intracranial calcifications are the clinical characteristics common in all. One patient had neural tube defect and other, arthrogryposis. Because the majority of pregnant women will be asymptomatic to Zika, we must be alert to the clinical variability of the birth defects associated to pregnancy Zika infection. Reports of clinical cases encourage the medical community to make diagnostic decisions.

Keywords: Zika virus; birth defects; clinical variation; congenital infection; pregnancy.