A novel finding from research conducted by Wayne State University School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology at the Kresge Eye Institute has shown that Zika Virus (ZIKV) caused impaired vision or even blindness.
This happens when the virus replicates itself in the retinal cells of the eyes – layer of cells at the back of the eye that are responsible to send signals to the brain for vision- leading to severe tissue damage.
Dr Ashok Kumar, a microbiologist and assistant professor in the department of ophthalmology said [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ]that infant born with microcephaly caused by ZIKV – a condition where the head of the newborn is significantly smaller than expected– could also have abnormalities in their eyes, ears, limbs and other organs.
“We studied the interaction of ZIKV with retinal cells. We observed that ZIKV can replicate and survive in retinal cells and ultimately kill them,” Kumar said in a statement.
“Next, we tested whether ZIKV can cause retinal damage using an animal model,” he added.
The team discovered that ZIKV infection of mouse eye caused chorioretinal atrophy – a condition where retina are damaged subsequently stop working.
According to Kumar, mouse infected with ZIKV showed same features with human eye infected with ZIKV. He believes that mouse could be a unique model for molecular mechanism of eyes ZIKV infection for drug testing or antiviral molecules study for treatment.
“Indeed, animal and human studies have shown the presence of ZIKV in tears, and there is ongoing research to determine how long, where and at what concentration the virus can survive in the eye,” Kumar said.
“Similarly, we do not know the long term impact of ZIKV induced ocular abnormalities in infants born with congenital ZIKV infection.
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