Open Access Peer-Reviewed
Carta ao Editor

Ocular finding in Zika virus infection

Achados oftalmológicos em infecções pelo vírus Zika

Viroj Wiwanitkit1; Camila V. Ventura1; Mauricio Maia3; Bruna V. Ventura1; Vanessa V. D. Linden5; Eveline B. Araújo1; Regina C. Ramos6; Maria Angela W. Rocha6; Durce C. G. Carvalho6; Rubens Belfort Jr.3; Liana O. Ventura1

DOI: 10.5935/0004-2749.20160081

Dear Editor:

The recent report on the Zika virus infection was very interesting(1). Ventura et al. concluded that "patients presented with normal anterior segment and important macular and optic nerve abnormalities"(1). I would like to share my ideas and experience on this finding. There is no doubt that the Zika virus directly invades the nervous system,(2) and neuro-ophthalmological problems can be seen. Nevertheless, it is still unclear whether ocular findings are caused by pathological processes that occurred prior to the Zika virus infection. As an acute dengue and like any illness, there are many pathological processes that can affect the eye including high fever, hemorrhage, and autoimmunity(3-4). Although there is a previous autopsy report on infected cases(2), it does not include an assessment of ocular tissue. In Thailand, a tropical country where the Zika virus infection has already been reported, there are still no reports of ocular problems in affected cases(3,5). Nevertheless, the ocular problem in Zika virus infection is an issue for further study, particularly its epidemiology and pathogenesis.

REFERENCES

1 Ventura CV, Maia M, Ventura BV, Linden VV, Araújo EB, Ramos RC, et al. Ophthalmological findings in infants with microcephaly and presumable intra-uterus Zika virus infection. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2016;79(1):1-3.

2 Mlakar J, Korva M, Tul N, Popović M, Poljšak-Prijatelj M, Mraz J, et al. Zika Virus associated with microcephaly. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(10):951-8.

3 Joob B, Wiwanitkit V. Zika virus infection and dengue: A new problem in diagnosis in a dengue-endemic area. Ann Trop Med Public Health. 2015;8(4):145-6.

4 Wiwanitkit S, Wiwanitkit V. Acute viral hemorrhage disease: A summary on new viruses. J Acute Dis. 2015;4(4):277-9.

5 Buathong R, Hermann L, Thaisomboonsuk B, Rutvisuttinunt W, Klungthong C, Chinnawirotpisan P, et al. Detection of Zika virus infection in Thailand, 2012-2014. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015;93(2):380-3.


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