Arboviruses (chikungunya, dengue, and Zika) associated with ophthalmic changes: a focus on aqueous fluid and vitreous humor

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020 May;39(5):827-833. doi: 10.1007/s10096-019-03792-9. Epub 2019 Dec 20.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to conduct a bibliographic survey and correlates the presence of arboviroses in the eyeball with the main eye changes presented by the population under study. This study is a systematic review of journals and indexed articles, carried out between January 2019 and June 2019, in which there was a query in the Pubmed/Medline and Scielo databases without temporal restriction. In addition to the aforementioned databases, the Brazilian Association of Organ Transplantation Association database, which provides epidemiological data on organ and tissue transplants in Brazil, was used as a research source. The Midwest region contributed to the increase in the number of organ transplants in Brazil. The number of corneal transplants in Brazil surpassed the number of organ transplants by four times. Several ophthalmic changes associated with Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika virus infections have been diagnosed; however, few studies have identified the presence of the virus in the eyeball. Arboviruses are of great relevance to public health due to a number of factors, ranging from the diversity of infectious agents involved and the plurality of clinical manifestations because the absence of efficient laboratory support, leading to delayed disease confirmation due to lack of differential diagnostics available. Added to these difficulties is the lack of specific therapy, leaving only the symptomatic control of clinical manifestations as the only treatment option. However, the manifestations are directly associated with the decreased quality of vision and consequently the quality of life of patients.

Keywords: Arboviruses; Chikungunya; Dengue; Eyes; Transplantation; Zika.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Aqueous Humor / virology*
  • Arbovirus Infections / complications*
  • Arbovirus Infections / virology
  • Arboviruses / pathogenicity*
  • Brazil
  • Chikungunya virus / pathogenicity
  • Corneal Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Dengue Virus / pathogenicity
  • Eye / pathology
  • Eye / virology
  • Humans
  • Public Health
  • Vitreous Body / pathology*
  • Vitreous Body / virology*
  • Zika Virus / pathogenicity