Poster #169 - Zika Virus Exposure During Pregnancy and its Effects on Infant Development

• In Event: 3-053 - Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: PS 10 Section - Prevention and Interventions

Integrative Statement

Zika virus infection during pregnancy has been linked to an increase in the rates of miscarriage, intrauterine fetal death, microcephaly and other birth defects. However, there has not been a systematic follow up of the development of the infants that do not present these extreme abnormalities at birth and whose mothers were exposed to Zika during pregnancy. The absence of documentation on the effects of Zika in infants of mothers exposed to the virus during pregnancy who do not develop microcephaly, which is only around 20% of that population, limits the planning and implementation of early identification and intervention. The objective of this study is to identify if there were any developmental deficits in infants of mothers exposed to Zika during pregnancy who did not develop microcephaly and to examine possible differences in these parameters according to the trimester of pregnancy in which the Zika exposure occurred. The sample is composed of 150 Puerto Rican 6 months old infants whose mothers were exposed to the Zika virus during the gestational period and did not develop microcephaly. Infants were evaluated at the seven regions of the Department of Health of Puerto Rico, where the presence of the virus had been confirmed during pregnancy. The evaluators were unaware of the trimester of pregnancy in which the mothers were exposed to the virus. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition (Bayley III) and sociodemographic and developmental maternal questionnaires were administered. The results showed an average functioning level of 105 in the cognitive subscale, 98 in the motor subscale and 104 in the language subscale. However, although, these values were within normal parameters, 6% of the children obtained a composite score of 85 or less in cognitive development, 20% in motor and 8% in language. There is also a trend towards lower scores in cognitive, motor and language functioning levels when the virus was detected during the first trimester of pregnancy. This is the first study worldwide that documents relatively normative outcomes of Zika exposed infants; while documenting motor deficits in one out of 5 infants by six months of age. The findings reinforce the importance of continuous monitoring of these infants development.

Authors

• Eudeliz Colón Nieves, Albizu University
  Presenting Author

• José Martínez González, Albizu University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Sergio Molina, Carlos Albizu University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Hana Sebbana, Albizu University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Keren L. Santiago, Albizu University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Débora Arrufat, Albizu University
  Non-Presenting Author