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Brief Communication

Hepatic disorder in Zika virus infection

Viroj Wiwanitkit 1,2,3,4
1 Department of Tropical Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, Hainan, China.
2 Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia.
3 Department of Biological Science, Joseph Ayobabalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji 233121, Nigeria.
4 Department of Community Medicine, Dr. DY Patil Medical University, Pune 411018, Maharashtra, India.

ABSTRACT
Zika virus infection is the present global problem. This arbovirus infection can cause acute illness and affect fetus in utero.
However, there can be other additional clinical manifestation including to the hepatic disorder. In this short commentary
article, the author briefly discusses on the liver problem due to Zika virus infection.

Key words: Zika virus; liver disorder; infection

Corresponding Author:
Prof. Viroj Wiwanitkit, Wiwanitkit House, Bangkhae, Bangkok 10160, Thailand. E-mail: wviroj@yahoo.com
Received: 31-05-2016, Accepted: 02-06-2016

INTRODUCTION the clinical report of new epidemics, Deng et al.
[4]
and Zheng et al. mentioned for no abnormal liver function
[5]
Zika virus is an arbovirus that can cause acute febrile illness. in infected cases. In infected death fetus, the molecular
At present, it is the big public health threat. The infection pathology also revealed no observed virus in liver tissue.
[6]
[1]
can be serious and can cause neurological complication. In However, there was an interesting report at the time when
addition, the serious effect on development of fetus in utero the Zika virus had just been discovered by Macnamara
can be seen. Hence, World Health Organization document that Zika virus could be isolated from the cases presenting
[7]
Zika virus infection as an important problem that needs with jaundice during the outbreak of jaundice in Africa. In
urgent attention and management. [2] addition, the recent animal mice model study revealed that
the Zika virus RNA can be seen in Zika virus infected mice.
[8,9]
Briefly, Zika virus infection can cause a dengue like illness and In fact, Zika virus is usually included in differential diagnosis
can be easily misdiagnosed. The acute hemorrhagic fever can of acute febrile illness due to arbovirus infections including
[3]
[10]
be the first presentation of Zika virus infection. Nevertheless, to yellow fever. Hence, the question whether there is
there can be other atypical manifestations. The atypical clinical any interrelationship between Zika virus infection and liver
manifestations can add difficulty in diagnosis of the Zika virus pathology is still a topic for further research.
infection. Of several atypical clinical problems, liver disorder CO-INFECTION WITH HEPATITIS VIRUS: A TOPIC THAT
can be seen and this is an issue that is less mentioned. In this IS STILL A MYTH
short commentary, the authors discusses on the liver disorder
seen in Zika virus infection. Finally, it should be noted that Zika virus can be concomitantly
seen with other infections (such as dengue and human
[11]
EVIDENCE OF LIVER DISORDER IN ZIKA VIRUS immunodeficiency virus ). In hepatology, the topic that is
[12]
INFECTION still a myth is the concomitance between Zika virus infection
and viral hepatitis. Although there has never been report on
There are limited reports on liver pathology in Zika virus this issue, it is no doubt that the co-infection already occurred
infection. Most reports showed no abnormality in liver. In in many tropical countries that presently have the problem of
Zika virus epidemic. How the Zika virus infection superimpose
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DOI:
10.20517/2394-5079.2016.17 How to cite this article: Wiwanitkit V. Hepatic disorder in Zika virus
infection. Hepatoma Res 2016;2:203-4.
© 2016 Hepatoma Research | Published by OAE Publishing Inc. 203