Detection of Zika virus RNA in whole blood of imported Zika virus disease cases up to 2 months after symptom onset, Israel, December 2015 to April 2016

Euro Surveill. 2016 Jun 30;21(26). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.26.30269.

Abstract

Zika virus RNA presence in serum, whole-blood and urine samples from six Israeli travellers symptomatic for Zika virus disease was examined. Whole-blood samples were positive for as late as 2 months (58 days) post-symptom onset, longer than for urine (26 days) and serum (3 days). These findings suggest the utility of whole blood in Zika infection diagnosis.

Keywords: Israel; Zika RNA; serum; urine; whole blood.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Israel / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • RNA, Viral / blood*
  • RNA, Viral / urine*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Symptom Assessment
  • Travel
  • Young Adult
  • Zika Virus / genetics
  • Zika Virus / isolation & purification*
  • Zika Virus Infection / diagnosis*
  • Zika Virus Infection / epidemiology
  • Zika Virus Infection / virology*

Substances

  • RNA, Viral