Case Reports: Prolonged Detection of Zika Virus RNA in Vaginal and Endocervical Samples from a Brazilian Woman, 2018

Taís E. da Cruz Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Paraná, Brazil;

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Raquel P. Souza Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Paraná, Brazil;

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Sandra M. Pelloso Department of Nursing, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Paraná, Brazil

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Fabrício Morelli Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Paraná, Brazil;

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Tamy T. Suehiro Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Paraná, Brazil;

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Edilson Damke Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Paraná, Brazil;

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Patrícia de S. Bonfim-Mendonça Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Paraná, Brazil;

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Vânia R. S. da Silva Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Paraná, Brazil;

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Marcia E. L. Consolaro Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Paraná, Brazil;

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Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is an emerging public health problem, associated with increased risk for Guillain–Barré syndrome and adverse fetal outcomes, including congenital microcephaly. Zika virus sexual transmission is known, but detection of the virus in different parts of the female reproductive tract is not well established. In this case report, we describe prolonged detection of ZIKV RNA in the vaginal secretion and endocervical mucosa from a Brazilian woman convalescent to ZIKV infection. A viral load of 2 × 102 copies/mL was detected up to 31 days after symptom onset in both samples. Other biological fluids, including whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, and saliva samples, were negative for ZIKV RNA. These findings advance the understanding of ZIKV infection and provide data for additional testing strategies.

Author Notes

Address correspondence to Marcia E. L. Consolaro, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Biomedicina, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790 Zona 7, Maringá 87020-900, Paraná, Brazil. E-mail: melconsolaro@gmail.com

Financial support: This work was supported by grants from CAPES/Brazilian Government (88881.130822/2016-01); Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/CNPq (440521/2016-5); and Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia da Secretaria de Ciência, Tecnologia e Insumos Estratégicos do Ministério da Saúde (Decit/SCTIE/MS).

Authors’ addresses: Taís E. da Cruz, Raquel P. Souza, Fabrício Morelli, Tamy T. Suehiro, Edilson Damke, Patrícia de S. Bonfim-Mendonça, Vânia R. S. da Silva, and Marcia E. L. Consolaro, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Biomedicina, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil, E-mails: taiselisangela07@gmail.com, raquelpantarotto@gmail.com.br, fahmorelli@gmail.com, tamysuehiro89@gmail.com, edilsondamke@gmail.com, patbonfim.09@gmail.com, vaniasela@gmail.com, and melconsolaro@gmail.com. Sandra M. Pelloso, Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil, E-mail: smpelloso@gmail.com.

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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