The Pathogenesis of Microcephaly Resulting from Congenital Infections: Why Is My Baby’S Head So Small?
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Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis DOI 10.1007/s10096-017-3111-8 REVIEW The pathogenesis of microcephaly resulting from congenital infections: why is my baby’s head so small? L. D. Frenkel1,2 & F. Gomez3 & F. Sabahi 4 Received: 29 August 2017 /Accepted: 17 September 2017 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany 2017 Abstract The emergence of Zika-virus-associated congenital review, we integrate all these findings to create a unified hy- microcephaly has engendered renewed interest in the patho- pothesis of the pathogenesis of congenital microcephaly in- genesis of microcephaly induced by infectious agents. Three duced by these infectious agents. of the original “TORCH” agents are associated with an appre- ciable incidence of congenital microcephaly: cytomegalovi- rus, rubella virus, and Toxoplasma gondii. The pathology of Introduction congenital microcephaly is characterized by neurotropic infec- tious agents that involve the fetal nervous system, leading to Microcephaly has become an issue of increased interest since brain destruction with calcifications, microcephaly, sensori- the recognition that it is a consequential manifestation of con- neural hearing loss, and ophthalmologic abnormalities. The genital Zika virus infection [1–3]. Microcephaly is generally inflammatory reaction induced by these four agents has an defined as a head circumference ≤ 2 standard deviations below important role in pathogenesis. The potential role of “strain the mean for gestational age [4]. Zika virus associated micro- differences” in pathogenesis of microcephaly by these four cephaly and other clinical manifestations of vertical transmis- pathogens is examined. Specific epidemiologic factors, such sion from mother to fetus during gestation are similar to those as first and early second trimester maternal infection, and the caused by three of the original “TORCH” agents (Toxoplasma manifestations of congenital infection in the infant, shed some gondii, rubella virus, and cytomegalovirus) [3, 5–7]. Most light on the pathogenesis. Immune aspects of normal pregnan- microcephaly associated with congenital Zika virus infection cy and their role in congenital infections is examined. In this and with other congenital infections (Tables 1 and 2)isa reflection of neurotropism for fetal central nervous system Lawrence D. Frenkel, Fernando Gomez and Farzaneh Sabahi contributed (CNS) cells [6], with massive destruction of neural tissue dur- equally to this work. ing the early development of the CNS of the fetus, which predominantly occurs during the first and early second trimes- * L. D. Frenkel ters of pregnancy [3, 8, 38, 39]. This neural tissue destruction [email protected] is most frequently associated with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), rubella virus, Toxoplasma gondii, and Zika virus in- 1 Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology, University of Illinois fections, and less commonly with other pathogens. CNS man- College of Medicine, Rockford, IL, USA ifestations are often associated with other manifestations in- 2 Department of Pediatrics, Division of Immunology, Allergy, and cluding intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) [10, 19, 40], Infectious Disease, The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s ophthalmologic anomalies [29, 41, 42] (including University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ, USA microphthalmia) [43], neuro-developmental abnormalities, 3 Department of Specialty Medicine, Rocky Vista University School of and sensorineural hearing loss [4, 10, 20]. It is important to Osteopathic Medicine, Parker, CO, USA recognize clinical manifestations associated with congenital 4 Department of Virology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Tarbiat infection, other than microcephaly, such as seizures, sensori- Modares University, Tehran, Iran neural hearing loss, and ophthalmologic abnormalities. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of the above-noted Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Table 1 Comparison of major pathogens associated with congenital microcephaly Microorganism Risk of symptomatic CNS manifestations Mode of transmission Vaccine availability References congenital infectiona (%) at birthb (%) Zika virus 8–10 80c Mosquito and sexual In clinical trials [8, 9] Cytomegalovirus 1–15 10–50 Sexual and oral In clinical trials [10–14] Rubella virus 20–50 10–20 Respiratory Available [3, 15, 16] Toxoplasma gondii 10–20 5–10 Ingestion None available [17, 18] a Presenting at birth with primary maternal infection b Microcephaly or structural defects of the CNS c As demonstrated on neuroimaging manifestations, including “silent” seizures (not apparent on Among the pregnancies with positive laboratory evidence of observation and diagnosed on electroencephalogram), and ap- maternal infection, possible Zika virus-associated birth defects propriate medical intervention for other manifestations of were reported in 8%, 5%, and 4% during the first, second, and symptomatic congenital infection may improve the quality third trimester infections respectively [9]. of life and preserve function [8, 44]. Most infections with this virus are transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito [47, 48]. It is less frequently transmitted sexually [49, 50]. The full appreciation of the Zika virus epi- The pathogens demic in the Americas was delayed and complicated because its clinical manifestations in adults are similar to those caused by Zika virus dengue and chikungunya viruses; the three viruses can cross- react serologically, and 80% of maternal infections are asymp- The epidemiology of Zika virus infection was recently tomatic [45, 51]. The major manifestations of symptomatic Zika reviewed by Calvet, et al. [45]. Serologic studies of the Yap virus infection in adults include macular or papular rash, pruri- Island epidemic suggested that the attack rate of individuals tus, headache, arthralgia, myalgia, non-purulent conjunctivitis, living on the island was above 70%, with less than 20% of the and low-grade fever [19, 45, 46]. The association of Zika virus inhabitants having symptomatic disease [46]. However, a re- infection with Guillain–Barré syndrome is likely, but the mech- cent review of Zika virus pregnancy registry data [8]reported anism remains to be further defined [52, 53]. that only 38% of the pregnant women were asymptomatic and Estimates suggest that as many as 10% of pregnant women 61% were symptomatic. The incidence of birth defects was with acute Zika virus infection deliver infants with serious similar in symptomatic and asymptomatic pregnant women. congenital anomalies, usually including microcephaly [8, 19, Table 2 Microcephaly-associated pathogens: shared reported findings* Zika virus CMV Rubella virus T. gondii Microcephaly† ++++ IUGR† ++++ CNS calcifications† ++++ Sensorineural hearing loss† ++++ Chorioretinal inflammation†, atrophy, or scars ++++ Hydrocephalus, hydranencephaly or ventriculomegaly ++– + Malformed gyri +++– Cortical dysplasia ++–– Cerebellar hypoplasia or aplasia ++–– Encephalitis or meningoencephalitis ++++ Microphthalmia ++++ Optic nerve atrophy ++++ Cataracts + – ++ Hepatic dysfunction – ++ + Organism details Flavivirus (ss + RNA) Herpesvirus (dsDNA) Togavirus (ss + RNA) Protozoan (intracellular) References [4, 19–28][29–32][29–34][29–31, 35–37] * Differences are discussed elsewhere in this article † classic findings for TORCH syndrome agents Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 54, 55] and other signs of severe CNS damage (developmental the first or second trimesters of pregnancy rather than the third delay, seizures, spasticity, and arthrogryposis) [7, 56], eye ab- trimester, there appears to be a greater chance of more severe normalities (cataracts, microphthalmia, and chorioretinitis) congenital CMV infection [10]. Maternal CMV infection is as- [21, 42], and intrauterine growth retardation [7, 21, 22, 48]. sociated with a 30% chance of congenital infection and as much In one study, 7% of these congenitally infected infants with as a 15% chance of clinically apparent manifestations at birth microcephaly had sensorineural hearing loss [4]. Currently (symptomatic congenital CMV), with up to 50% of these infants available data suggest that the incidence of symptomatic or manifesting microcephaly [11, 12, 14, 64]. asymptomatic congenital infection is similar with symptom- Unlike the usual case for rubella virus [65], and probably for atic or asymptomatic maternal infection [8, 9]. Zika virus infections, congenital CMV infection occurs in in- Thirteen infants with evidence of central nervous system fants born both to women who are seronegative or who are damage on neuro-imaging, but without microcephaly at birth, seropositive prior to pregnancy [12, 64]. This is believed to born to mothers with documented Zika virus infection (none represent recurrent (reactivation of latent virus) or reinfection during the third trimester), have been described [57]. Two (superinfection with a new strain) of CMV in the pregnant host others, born to mothers with Zika virus infection during the third [12]. The frequency of transmission of CMV from mother to trimester, have also been described [58]. Data from infants born fetus when the mother was seropositive prior to pregnancy is with normal head size and laboratory evidence (quantitative estimatedtobe1%[12]. The rate of transmission of CMV from polymerase chain reaction, IgM capture enzyme-linked immu- mothers who were CMV seropositive and the severity of clinical nosorbent assay) of congenital Zika virus infection at birth, re- manifestations seem to be similar to those for CMV seronega- vealed that microcephaly developed after