Original research article ebola and zika virus

15738 Rupali Yevale et al.
Ebola and zika virus

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Although mosquito bites are the main way that Zika 
virus is spread, Zika virus can also spread when an 
infected man has sex with his partners.
 
Zika virus genetics: 
There are two lineages of Zika virus, the 
African lineage and the Asian lineage (Kuno 
et al
., 1998; Faye 
et al
., 2014). Presently, only two full genome sequences of 
Zika virus from Brazil and Suriname have been published 
(Haddow 
et al
., 2012). Molecular analysis of the Zika virus 
isolated from the travel-related case from the Maldives and 
diagnosed in Finland in showed that it too belonged to the 
Asian lineage. Recent preliminary findings from molecular 
investigations of 17 whole genome sequences in the public 
domain stressed a possible change in the fitness of the Asian 
lineage through an adaptation of the NS1 codon usage. The 
researchers suggest that these modifications may have an 
impact on viral replication rates and viral titres in humans. The 
authors also reported structural and immunological similarities 
in the NS1 antigen between Zika and dengue viruses. Both 
preliminary findings should be further studied and verified on 
larger whole genome panels (Enfissi 
et al
.,). 
 
Symptoms: 
The most common symptoms are fever, rash, 
joint pain or red eyes. Other common symptoms include 
muscle pain and headache. Symptoms usually begin two to 
seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and last 
several days to a week. Hospitalization and deaths from Zika 
are unusual, but a nerve disorder, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, 
can rarely follow an infection. The biggest concern is related 
to birth defects that have been seen when pregnant women 
become infected.