Zika virus infection in the genital tract of non-pregnant females: a systematic review

Morelli, F. and Souza, R. P. and Cruz, T. E. da and Damke, G. M. Z. F. and Damke, E. and Suehiro, T. T. and Silva, V. R. S. da and Consolaro, M. E. L.

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo (2020) 62:

DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946202062016

Abstract

This review provides a general overview on the positivity and persistence of Zika virus (ZIKV) in female genital tract (FGT) of non-pregnant women and animals, as well as in cell cultures, and its influence on FGT health. We performed a systematic review based on the PRISMA statement to identify studies focused on "Zika virus" and "non-pregnant female" in PubMed, Embase, Scopus Scholar and Web of Knowledge databases of full-text papers and abstracts published in English, with no restrictions regarding the initial date of publication, up to August 2019. Our search terms yielded 625 records, that were 108 after removal of duplicates, leaving 517 items for title and abstract reviews. Of these, 475 did not meet the inclusion criteria, leaving 42 records for full-text review and resulting in the exclusion of 6 additional records. The remaining 36 met our inclusion criteria. Variations were observed regarding the presence and persistence of ZIKV in lower and upper genital samples. However, the FGT was the place in which ZIKV RNA has been detected, sometimes for relatively long periods, even after the clearance from blood and urine. In addition to the vagina and cervix, the endometrium, uterus and ovary (oocytes and follicles) could also be involved in persistent ZIKV infections. Further prospective studies are needed to assess the effect of ZIKV on FGT health.

Citation

Morelli, F., Souza, R. P., Cruz, T. E. da, Damke, G. M. Z. F., Damke, E., Suehiro, T. T., Silva, V. R. S. da, & Consolaro, M. E. L. (2020). Zika virus infection in the genital tract of non-pregnant females: a systematic review. Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De Sao Paulo, 62(78). https://doi.org/10.1590/s1678-9946202062016 animal models, man, systematic reviews, in vitro, human diseases, viral diseases, Zika fever, Animal Models of Human Diseases [VV400], ovaries, endometrium, Prion, Viral, Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens of Humans [VV210], viral infections, women, cell cultures, cervix, endometrial area, female genital system, female genitalia, oocytes, ovarian follicles, ribonucleic acid, RNA, uterus, vagina, Zika virus

Keywords

• animal models
• man
• systematic reviews
• in vitro
• human diseases
• viral diseases
• Zika fever
• Animal Models of Human Diseases [VV400]
• ovaries
• endometrium
• Prion
• Viral
• Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens of Humans [VV210]
• viral infections
• women
• cell cultures
• cervix
• endometrial area
• female genital system
• female genitalia
• oocytes
• ovarian follicles
• ribonucleic acid
• RNA
• uterus
• vagina
• Zika virus