寨卡病毒,不仅仅是小头畸形

寨卡病毒(Zika virus,ZIKV)属于黄病毒科黄病毒属,由蚊虫叮咬传播。ZIKV发现于1947年。2007年以来,由于基因突变,ZIKV获得了更强的神经嗜性和在蚊虫体内播散的能力,因而在全球加快流行,并与成人吉兰-巴雷综合征和胎儿小头畸形的发生密切相关。最近的临床观察和动物研究进一步表明,ZIKV感染引起的临床症状复杂多样,所造成的疾病不仅仅是小头畸形,它还能够损伤雄性生殖系统,干扰下丘脑对神经内分泌系统的调节,引起多种激素分泌缺陷,导致生长发育迟缓和学习记忆能力损伤。因此,对于先天感染ZIKV的新生儿,不仅要在孕期监测小头畸形的发生,出生后也需进行长期的跟踪观察;对于出生后感染ZIKV的婴幼儿以及学龄前儿童,无论病情轻重,也需要进行随访,以明确ZIKV感染的远期影响。

Zika Virus Causes Beyond the Microcephaly

Zika virus(ZIKV)belongs to the family Flaviviridae and genus Flavivirus,and is transmitted by biting of mosquitoes.ZIKV was first discovered in 1947.Since 2007,ZIKV speeded up its spread,possibly due to genetic mutations,and acquired neurotropism and thus caused Guillain-Barrésyndrome in adults and microcephaly in fetuses.However,recent clinical investigations and animal experiments have shown that ZIKV infection causes not only microcephaly,it can also damage the male reproductive system,disrupt the neuroendocrine system,result in multiple hormone deficiencies and finally cause growth delay and memory impairment.Therefore,newborns congenitally infected with ZIKV should not only be checked for microcephaly at birth,but also be followed up for long time after birth.Meanwhile,for infants or children infected with ZIKV,no matter the severity of the disease,follow-up is also required to determine the long-term impact of ZIKV infection.