The research finds that the virus infects cells in the brain’s cortex which prevents the proper division and growth of new brain cells.
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Researchers following scores of pregnant women in Brazil infected by the Zika virus say the pathogen can cause a range of “grave” complications and birth defects – including some that have not previously been linked to the virus – and that problems can surface at any stage of pregnancy.
In 2015, the Zika virus began spreading throughout the Americas and a potential link was seen between the virus and a significant increase in cases of fetal microcephaly, as well as other neurologic abnormalities.
Babies born with microcephaly have underdeveloped brains and may face severe, lifelong developmental disabilities. Zika virus is mosquito-borne flavivirus, which now is reported to be circulating in more than 25 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean The study was published Friday in Cell today.
“It’s very telling that the cells that form the cortex are potentially susceptible to the virus, and their growth could be disrupted by the virus”, said Ming, a professor of neurology and neuroscience.
In what has been hailed as a major breakthrough, scientists have announced they believe they understand how the Zika virus causes a rare birth defect in which babies are born without abnormally large heads and underdeveloped brains.
For the study, Nielsen-Saines and colleagues from Brazil identified 88 women in the Rio de Janeiro area who had symptoms of Zika when they were pregnant.
While this study does not prove the direct link between Zika and microcephaly, it pinpoints where the virus may be doing the most damage, researchers said.
They found out that 90 percent of the cells got infected within three days of getting exposed to the Zika virus.
American doctors have been advised to consider Zika infections in patients who report rapid onset of Zika symptoms within two weeks of traveling to one of the affected countries.
“We hope our results will help educate the public and government decision makers because they need to have more information on this virus, and we have to take it seriously”, Song said. The CDC also encourages pregnant women to avoid traveling to these areas at all in order to protect their children’s future health. It can be transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, blood transfusion and an infected pregnant woman can pass it to her fetus during pregnancy.
“We are trying to fill the knowledge gap between the infection and potential neurological defects”, said first author Tang.
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Song’s team also reported that the infected cells grew more slowly than healthy cells, and their division cycles were interrupted – factors that could also contribute to microcephaly.
