Different
tick-borne infections can potentially harm a developing fetus,
including Lyme disease, relapsing fever, Babesiosis, and Bartonellosis.
Zika virus exposure has received a lot of attention in the recent media
as a cause of fetal malformations including microcephaly. Now flavivirus
cousins of Zika, including West Nile and Powassan virus have been
reported to "infect and damage fetuses in pregnant mice and replicate
efficiently in maternal and fetal tissues in humans". Although proof is
lacking in human studies, this is another call to action to protect
pregnant mothers and our future generations from the expanding risk of
tick-borne (and mosquito borne) infections.
https://www.the-scientist.com/…
https://www.the-scientist.com/…
Studies in mice suggest that other flaviviruses, such as West Nile virus and Powassan virus, may cause birth defects, too.
the-scientist.com
