Infection of the maternal-fetal interface and vertical transmission following low-dose inoculation of pregnant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with an African-lineage Zika virus

BackgroundCongenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection can result in birth defects, including malformations in the fetal brain and visual system. There are two distinct genetic lineages of ZIKV: African and Asian. Asian-lineage ZIKVs have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in humans; however, recent evidence from experimental models suggests that African-lineage viruses can also be vertically transmitted and cause fetal harm. Methodology/Principal findingsTo evaluate the pathway of vertical transmission of African-lineage ZIKV, we inoculated nine pregnant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) subcutaneously with 44 plaque-forming units of a ZIKV strain from Senegal, (ZIKV-DAK). Dams were inoculated either at gestational day 30 or 45. Following maternal inoculation, pregnancies were surgically terminated seven or 14 days later and fetal and maternal-fetal interface tissues were collected and evaluated. Infection in the dams was evaluated via plasma viremia and neutralizing antibody titers pre- and post- ZIKV inoculation. All dams became productively infected and developed strong neutralizing antibody responses. ZIKV RNA was detected in maternal-fetal interface tissues (placenta, decidua, and fetal membranes) by RT-qPCR and in situ hybridization. In situ hybridization detected ZIKV predominantly in the decidua and revealed that the fetal membranes may play a role in ZIKV vertical transmission. Infectious ZIKV was detected in the amniotic fluid of three pregnancies and one fetus had ZIKV RNA detected in multiple tissues. No significant pathology was observed in any fetus; and ZIKV did not have a substantial effect on the placenta. Conclusions/SignificanceThis study demonstrates that a very low dose of African-lineage ZIKV can be vertically transmitted to the macaque fetus during pregnancy. The low inoculating dose used in this study suggests a low minimal infectious dose for rhesus macaques. Vertical transmission with a low dose in macaques further supports the high epidemic potential of African ZIKV strains.