Cargando…

Does Zika Virus Cause Microcephaly - Applying the Bradford Hill Viewpoints

INTRODUCTION: Zika virus has been documented since 1952, but been associated with mild, self-limiting disease. Zika virus is classified as an arbovirus from a family of Flaviviridae and primarily spread by Aedes Aegypti mosquitos. However, in a large outbreak in Brazil in 2015, Zika virus has been a...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Awadh, Asma, Chughtai, Abrar Ahmad, Dyda, Amalie, Sheikh, Mohamud, Heslop, David J., MacIntyre, Chandini Raina
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Public Library of Science 2017
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5346029/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28357156
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/currents.outbreaks.2fced6e886074f6db162a00d4940133b
Descripción
Sumario:INTRODUCTION: Zika virus has been documented since 1952, but been associated with mild, self-limiting disease. Zika virus is classified as an arbovirus from a family of Flaviviridae and primarily spread by Aedes Aegypti mosquitos. However, in a large outbreak in Brazil in 2015, Zika virus has been associated with microcephaly. METHODS: In this review we applied the Bradford-Hill viewpoints  to investigate the association between Zika virus and microcephaly. We examined historical studies, available data and also compared historical rates of microcephaly prior to the Zika virus outbreak. The available evidence was reviewed against the Bradford Hill viewpoints. RESULTS: All  the nine criteria were met to varying degrees: strength of association, consistency of the association, specificity, temporality, plausibility, coherence, experimental evidence, biological gradient and analogy. Conclusion: Using the Bradford Hill Viewpoints as an evaluation framework for causation is highly suggestive that the association between Zika virus and microcephaly is causal. Further studies using animal models on the viewpoints which were not as strongly fulfilled would be helpful.