Zika virus can live in the eye and left its genetic material into tears. Thus the results of a study conducted by a team of researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis. The study helps explain why some patients infected with Zika suffered eye diseases, including inflammation of the uvea which can cause permanent blindness.
"Our research shows that the eyes can be a host for Zika virus. We need to consider whether a patient is infected Zika had infectious virus in their eyes, and how long the virus was settled, "said Michael S. Diamond, one of the study's senior author.
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| The Aedes aegypti mosquito has been blamed for spreading Zika but scientists believe there must be another factor involved. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1dqVDX) |
The researchers conducted experiments on mice to determine the effects Zika infection in the eye. As a result, they found live virus in the eyes of mice seven days later. These observations confirm that Zika virus can move into the eye.
Eye infection increases a person's chances of contracting infection through contact with water Zika eyes of patients Zika. The researchers found that mice infected tear containing RNA Zika Zika virus, but the virus was not found penginfeksi time of the test after 28 days the infected mice.
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| Zika virus infection in the eye increases a person's chances of contracting the infection through contact with the tears of the Zika patients. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1dqVWX) |
"Although we did not find any live virus in mice tears, does not mean it can not be transmitted to humans," said Jonathan J. Miner, lead author of the study. Miner added: There may be a time when the tears can infect people who come into contact, and finally to transmit the virus.
In the eye, the immune system is less active than in other body parts. It aims to avoid accidental damage to the tissue that plays a role in vision when the immune system is fighting infection. When immunity is reduced, as a result, there is often a lag in the eye infection after cleaning of the whole body.
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| This visual abstract the findings of Miner et al., who describe how ZIKV infection in the eye results in inflammation and injury. ZIKV infected the iris, cornea, retina, and optic nerve and caused conjunctivitis, panuveitis, and neuroretinitis in mice. This manuscript establishes a model for evaluating treatments for ZIKV infections in the eye. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1dqVR9) |
"We plan to conduct human studies to determine whether the virus is transmitted is in the cornea or other parts of the eye, because it can have an impact on corneal transplantation," said Rajendra S. Apte, a senior author of the study.
He said the research was important because viruses such as herpes also inadvertently transmitted through corneal transplantation. Researchers Zika now more expensive modes of transmission Zika because the virus is spreading more rapidly than expected. Besides mosquitoes, several factors may be contributing to its spread.
"Sexual transmission may not be the primary, but can other body fluids, such as saliva, urine or tears," said Diamond, who is an associate professor of molecular microbiology, pathology and immunology.
Infection Zika became the world's attention as it spread rapidly throughout the world and can cause brain damage and death of the fetus. About a third of the number of babies infected during pregnancy Zika suffered eye diseases such as inflammation of the optic nerve, retinal damage or blindness after birth. In adults, Zika can cause conjunctivitis-redness and itching eyes, and in rare cases, can cause inflammation of the uvea. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SCIENCEDAILY | INDEPENDENT]
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