Congenital Zika virus syndrome…what else? Two case reports of severe combined fetal pathologies.

Zika virus (ZIKV) has recently emerged as a teratogenic infectious agent associated with severe fetal cerebral anomalies. Other microorganisms (TORCH agents) as well as genetic disorders and toxic agents may lead to similar anomalies. In case of fetal anomalies, the exact etiology might be difficult to establish, especially in ZIKV endemic countries. As the risks associated with maternal infection remain unclear adequate parental counseling is difficult. We present two cases of severe fetal pathologies managed in our multidisciplinary center during the ZIKV outbreak in Martinique, a French Caribbean Island. Both fetuses had congenital ZIKV infection confirmed by RT-PCR. While one case presented with significant cerebral anomalies, the other one presented with hydrops fetalis. A complete analysis revealed that the fetal lesions observed resulted from a combination of ZIKV congenital infection and a genetic disorder (trisomy 18) in case 1 or congenital Parvovirus B19 infection in case 2. We highlight the difficulties related to adequate diagnosis in case of suspected ZIKV congenital syndrome. Additional factors may contribute to or cause fetal pathology, even in the presence of a confirmed ZIKV fetal infection. An exact diagnosis is mandatory to draw definitive conclusions. We further emphasize that, similarly to other congenital infections, it is very likely that not all infected fetuses will become symptomatic

Person-to-Person Transmission of Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Bunyavirus Through Blood Contact

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus is a newly discovered bunyavirus with high pathogenicity to human. The transmission model has been largely uncharacterized. Investigation on a cluster of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome cases provided evidence of person-to-person transmission through blood contact to the index patient with high serum virus load

[Nosocomial infections due to adenovirus in a paediatric unit].

OBJECTIVE: We carried out a retrospective analysis of an outbreak of adenovirus (AdV) infections in a paediatric unit. The aim of the study was to analyse cases, determine the route of transmission and to evaluate the efficacy of the prevention measures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was performed by recollection of AdV infection cases during a period of 1 year and the results were compared with the list of clinical cases recorded during the epidemic. The clinical files of children with a positive specimen were retrospectively analysed. During that period, five members of the medical staff showed clinical signs and symptoms of AdV infection. A throat swab was collected from a subset of the staff. RESULTS: Among nine patients with positive AdV detection, six were infected with an Adv type 2. Six were nosocomially-acquired, the other two were only probable nosocomial infections. The index case was a child presenting a febrile diarrhoea 48 h prior to being admitted to the hospital. Nosocomial transmission was associated with the prolonged shedding of the virus with faeces of the infected cases. The specimens collected from the staff remained negative. The outcome was favourable for all children. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention measures, implemented when the epidemic was characterised, allowed the control of the nosocomial outbreak

Acute retinal necrosis diagnosed in a child with chronic panuveitis.

International audienceBACKGROUND: To report the case of an immunocompetent child with herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) acute retinal necrosis (ARN) syndrome, who was considered to have an idiopathic unilateral panuveitis sensitive to steroid treatment. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction for detection of viral DNA was applied to ocular fluids and in situ hybridization was performed on a retinal sample. HSV serology was performed using the ELISA and Western blot techniques, and an in-house indirect immunofluorescence technique. RESULTS: In addition to the atypical clinical presentation, the serological assays for HSV were negative using ELISA at the time of diagnosis of ARN and 1 year after. HSV2 infection was confirmed by using polymerase chain reaction of aqueous humor specimen and in situ hybridization of a retinal biopsy. Retrospective analysis with the Western blot technique detected low titers of anti-HSV antibodies, when the sera were concentrated 5-fold. CONCLUSION: Herpes virus infections must be investigated in children with posterior or panuveitis. PCR analysis is a reliable technique for diagnosis. This case emphasizes that clinical presentation can be atypical and that a negative viral serology does not exclude an acute or a past herpetic infection

. Cytomegalovirus and adenovirus infections and diseases among 75 paediatric unrelated allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients.

Viral infections remain a major complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. A population of children who underwent unrelated allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in a single centre has been followed-up for viral infections and diseases. We describe the detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and adenovirus among 75 children transplanted between 1989 and 2000. CMV was detected among 22 patients (29%) and adenovirus among 19 patients (25%); they were associated with clinical diseases in 10 and 8 patients, respectively. Four patients had adenovirus and CMV coinfection. The obvious risk factor for CMV infection is seropositivity of the recipient prior to transplantation. Adenovirus is detected significantly more frequently when conditioning regimen includes anti-thymocyte or anti-lymphocyte globulin. Diseases associated with adenovirus have been correlated with a significantly higher mortality rate, stressing the need for the implementation of a systematic virological survey for this virus and for the evaluation of therapeutic protocols including new molecules. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc