Asian strains from the Zika virus found in Pune: ICMR-NIV

Pune: Zika virus found in Pune belonging to strain or genotype Asia.
Scientists at the Medical Research Council Indian languages ​​based in the city – the Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) found through genetic sequencing full of virus after isolating it from blood samples of women Belsar (51), tested positive Zika virus during the outbreak investigation routine on 30 July.
Zika virus (ZIKV) are classified into two lineages – Africa and Asia / America.
The American Lineage – comes from the plague Central America recently – disimpal of Asian descent.
Understanding the genetic lineages of Zika virus is very important because, unlike the tension Asian, African and American strains associated with neurological defects in babies of infected pregnant women zika.
“Sequencing the complete genome of the virus found in Pune Zika has revealed that it belonged to genotype sequences Asia,” said a senior official of ICMR.
In India, most previous outbreaks of the Asian genetic lineages.
Zika latest outbreaks in Kerala also has a virus that matches the Asian strain.
There is concern that if the Zika virus to be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus, it can result in microcephaly and other congenital malformations in infants, collectively referred to as congenital syndrome of congenital zika.
Scientists have warned that the Asian strain can also cause microcephaly (smaller than normal head size), depending on the time of Zika virus infection during pregnancy.
Officials state supervision has intensified monitoring and testing of pregnant women.
“Banning women Belsar, blood samples no one else has tested positive so far Zika virus in Maharashtra,” said State Surveillance Officer Pradip AWATION.