Breastfeeding by chikungunya virus-infected dams confers resistance to challenge in the offspring

Vertical transmission of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has been reported in humans, but the transmission routes have not been completely understood, and experimental animal models are needed to enable detailed investigation of the transmission and pathogenesis of congenital infections. The intertwining of immune response and virus components at the gestation/breastfeeding interfaces between mother and fetus/newborn may have effects during the offspring development. An experimental model of CHIKV was established by infecting pregnant BALB/c female mice that enabled confirmation that dams inoculated up to the 10th gestational day transmit CHIKV transplacentally to approximately 8.4% of the fetuses, resulting in severe teratogenic effects.

Source: Translational Research - December 13, 2022 Category: Research Authors: Juliano de Paula Souza, Bruna Lais Santos de Jesus, Andr é Luíz Giusti, Rosa Maria Mendes Viana, Ricardo de Souza Cardoso, Gláucia Maria Almeida, Marjorie Cornejo Pontelli, Beate Mareike, Danillo Lucas Alves Espósito, Danilo Machado de Melo, Thaís Me Source Type: research