مقالات پذیرفته شده در نهمین کنگره بین المللی زیست پزشکی
The Importance of Understanding Teratogenic Viral Risks During Pregnancy
The Importance of Understanding Teratogenic Viral Risks During Pregnancy
Fatemeh Shadlu,1Saman Hakimian*,2,*
1. Bachelor’s in Microbiology Islamic Azad University of Babol 2. Phd. student of Microbiology ,Biology department , Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch, Tehran , Iran
Introduction: Emerging viral infections pose a significant threat to pregnant women and their fetuses. This
review explores maternal and fetal outcomes following infections with teratogenic viruses,
emphasizing the critical importance of this issue due to the potentially irreversible consequences
for both maternal and fetal health.
Several viruses are known to cause severe and often irreversible adverse outcomes, including
Zika virus (ZIKV), Oropouche virus (OROV), and Cytomegalovirus (CMV). Addressing the
impacts of teratogens requires overcoming several challenges such as continuous disease
surveillance, prioritizing pregnant women in clinical trials, and conducting complementary
studies like the analysis of infected placental tissues.
Methods: Numerous reports have supported the possibility of sexual transmission of ZIKV from men to
women, prompting the development of public health guidelines to prevent this mode of
transmission. Moreover, stagnant water provides an ideal environment for Aedes mosquitoes to
lay eggs, highlighting the importance of vector control measures.
Neuropathological studies of brain abnormalities associated with CZS have shown striking
similarities to congenital CMV infections. Another teratogenic virus, Oropouche virus (OROV),
from the Bunyaviridae family, has also raised concern.
Results: Among these viruses, Zika virus (ZIKV)—a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus from the
Flavivirus genus and Flaviviridae family—is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. It gained
global attention due to its teratogenic effects during pregnancy, which can lead to severe
congenital outcomes such as microcephaly, long-term neurodevelopmental impairments, and
fetal death. Infants with microcephaly are born with abnormally small head sizes compared to
age and sex-specific norms. The most severe fetal outcomes usually occur when maternal
infection takes place during the first or second trimester.
Conclusion: Emerging viral infections pose a significant threat to pregnant women and their fetuses. This
review explores maternal and fetal outcomes following infections with teratogenic viruses,
emphasizing the critical importance of this issue due to the potentially irreversible consequences
for both maternal and fetal health.
In recent years, OROV outbreaks have
been reported in Brazil, with vertical transmission confirmed, resulting in fetal death and
microcephaly. Newborns affected by OROV-related microcephaly were also found to have
arthrogryposis and other neurological impairments. Clinically, vertical OROV infection presents
with features similar to those of CZS.