Epidemiological and clinical findings | |
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 | Increase in microcephaly cases coincides with increase in ZIKV transmission (with a 6-month delay) |
 | Data modeling shows that the main period at risk is the first trimester of pregnancy |
 | Of the microcephaly cases investigated in Brazil, 32 % were linked to ZIKV |
 | Case study: Miscarriage of a baby with microcephaly was positive for ZIKV (including in its brain), but negative for other known infectious causes of microcephaly |
Laboratory studies | |
 | ZIKV can infect human neural progenitor cells and attenuate their growth in vitro |
Primary human placental macrophages and trophoblasts are permissive to ZIKV infection in vitro | |
Animal models | |
 | Mouse model of ZIKV display signs of microcephaly |
Analogy to related viruses | |
 | Rubella virus, another flavivirus, causes microcephaly when infection occurs during pregnancy |