Molecular and clinical investigation of Zika virus outbreak in New Caledonia

Abstract

&lt;p&gt;Introduction: Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging mosquito-borne pathogen transmitted to humans byinfected Aedes mosquitoes. In 2016, WHO declared ZIKV as a Public Health Emergency ofInternational Concern regarding clusters of microcephaly cases and neurological disorders probablylinked to ZIKV infection. Before that, ZIKV emerged in the Pacific for the first time in 2007. In 2013French Polynesia (FP) experienced a large Zika outbreak. ZIKV then spread throughout the Pacificduring the following two years and reached Brazil where a major outbreak is occurring. In NewCaledonia (NC), a ZIKV outbreak occurred in 2014 and 2015 with more than 1500 cases of ZIKVconfirmed by RT-PCR.Method: However, the diagnostic of ZIKV cases was challenging due to low sensitivity of RT-PCRtechnics on serum samples. We thus explored the detection of ZIKV in non-invasive samples. Wealso investigated the molecular evolution of ZIKV in NC compared to other regions in the world.Results/Conclusion: Here, we highlighted a better sensitivity of ZIKV detection by RT-PCR in urinesamples with longer and higher presence of ZIKV RNA compared to serum. Phylogenetic analysisconfirmed the epidemiological link between FP and NC ZIKV strains. Finally results of clinicalinvestigations regarding probable neurological disorders linked to ZIKV infection will be presented.&lt;/p&gt;</p