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Newman CM, Tarantal AF, Martinez ML, Simmons HA, Morgan TK, Zeng X, Rosinski JR, Bliss MI, Bohm EK, Dudley DM, Aliota MT, Friedrich TC, Miller CJ, O’Connor DH. Early Embryonic Loss Following Intravaginal Zika Virus Challenge in Rhesus Macaques. Front Immunol 2021; 12:686437. [PMID: 34079560 PMCID: PMC8165274 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.686437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) and is primarily transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes; however, ZIKV can also be sexually transmitted. During the initial epidemic and in places where ZIKV is now considered endemic, it is difficult to disentangle the risks and contributions of sexual versus vector-borne transmission to adverse pregnancy outcomes. To examine the potential impact of sexual transmission of ZIKV on pregnancy outcome, we challenged three rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) three times intravaginally with 1 x 107 PFU of a low passage, African lineage ZIKV isolate (ZIKV-DAK) in the first trimester (~30 days gestational age). Samples were collected from all animals initially on days 3 through 10 post challenge, followed by twice, and then once weekly sample collection; ultrasound examinations were performed every 3-4 days then weekly as pregnancies progressed. All three dams had ZIKV RNA detectable in plasma on day 3 post-ZIKV challenge. At approximately 45 days gestation (17-18 days post-challenge), two of the three dams were found with nonviable embryos by ultrasound. Viral RNA was detected in recovered tissues and at the maternal-fetal interface (MFI) in both cases. The remaining viable pregnancy proceeded to near term (~155 days gestational age) and ZIKV RNA was detected at the MFI but not in fetal tissues. These results suggest that sexual transmission of ZIKV may represent an underappreciated risk of pregnancy loss during early gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M. Newman
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Alice F. Tarantal
- Pediatrics, Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Michele L. Martinez
- Pediatrics, Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Heather A. Simmons
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Terry K. Morgan
- Pathology, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Xiankun Zeng
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Jenna R. Rosinski
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Mason I. Bliss
- Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Ellie K. Bohm
- Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United States
| | - Dawn M. Dudley
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Matthew T. Aliota
- Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United States
| | - Thomas C. Friedrich
- Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Christopher J. Miller
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
- Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - David H. O’Connor
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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