RE: West Nile Virus in pregnancy

I wanted to add one other reference related to this issue in domestic
animals. Barnard and Voges (1986) found that WNV infection of pregnant
ewes resulted in moderate temperature increases and viremia in one ewe.
Of twins born to the viremic ewe, one lamb was clinically normal while the
other was weak and died at 2 days of age and hydranencephaly was observed
(Barnard BJ and SF Voges. 1986. Flaviviruses in South Africa: pathogenic
for sheep. Onderstepoort J. Vet Res 53: 234-238). The WN virus strain
introduced into North America has new virulence characteristics at least
for our indigenous vertebrate hosts and may present different clinical
disease outcomes.

Bob McLean

                      "Ninivaggi, Dominick"
                      <Dominick.Ninivaggi@co.suf To: jsnedek2@twcny.rr.com
                      folk.ny.us> cc: WESTNILEVIRUS-L <WESTNILEVIRUS-L@cornell.edu>
                      Sent by: Subject: RE: West Nile Virus in pregnancy
                      owner-WESTNILEVIRUS-L@corn
                      ell.edu

                      10/15/02 10:32 AM
                      Please respond to
                      Dominick.Ninivaggi

Please keep us informed. Besides the human interest, the large number of
asymptomatic cases could make this an issue.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Snedeker [mailto:jsnedek2@twcny.rr.com]
Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2002 9:42 PM
To: WESTNILEVIRUS-L@cornell.edu
Subject: West Nile Virus in pregnancy

I'm a pediatric infectious diseases practitioner who has been consulted
regarding a case of serologically-confirmed West Nile Virus infection in a
woman who is currently 32 weeks pregnant. The infection probably occurred
at 26-27 weeks gestation, but was unrecognized as a WNV infection at that
time for a variety of reasons.

I have been unable to learn anything at all about fetal outcomes following
WNV infection in pregnancy, despite extensive Medline searching and several
phone calls to WNV experts at CDC and elsewhere.

I would be most grateful if anyone on this listserv who has any personal
experience with WNV infections in pregnancy (in the US or elsewhere in the
world) would share information regarding any adverse effects on the child
either in the immediate postnatal period, or later in childhood (e.g.
developmental delay, seizures, etc.) Replies should be sent to me directly
if any personal or confidential information is included that might not be
appropriate for posting on the listserv. Many thanks!

--
Jeff Snedeker, MD
Northeast Pediatrics
10 Graham Road West
Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone (607) 257-2188
Fax (607) 266-7341
email jsnedek2@twcny.rr.com