Oropouche fever and pregnancy

Abstract

Abstract The Oropouche virus (OROV), the etiologic agent of Oropouche fever, has been circulating in several South American and Central American countries since 1955. In Brazil, the disease spent many years restricted to the North region, but since 2023 it has been confirmed in almost all Brazilian States. The aim of this article was to update the state of the art and warn about the risk of vertical transmission of OROV. The virus is an arbovirus transmitted mainly by the Culicoides paraenses mosquito, popularly known as the maruim or gunpowder mosquito. Recently, the possibility of vertical transmission from the pregnant woman to the fetus has been observed, with reports of confirmed cases of miscarriage, fetal death or congenital malformations such as microcephaly. Few studies suggest vertical transmission of OROV, and research with a larger number of pregnant women is needed to prove this association. However, the current evidence, although considered weak, is sufficient to suggest that health professionals and pregnant women should be informed of this possibility and try to prevent contact with the transmitting mosquito, in addition to the need for health authorities to combat breeding sites.

Keywords

• Oropouche fever
• Pregnancy
• Vertical transmission