In 2007, when an outbreak of ZIKV infections was reported on Yap island in Micronesia
73% of the residents testing positive (7). A major outbreak was then reported
in Fresh Polynesia with more than 32,000 cases with a subsequent report in Easter Island and a first case in Brazil in
March 2015 (8, 9). Since then ZIKV had spread through Brazil and is currently present in 45 countries and territories
in South and Central America (10-12). Initially described as a benign febrile illness, associated with maculopapular
rash, joint and muscle pain, headache, and non-purulent conjunctivitis (13), recent reports have linked ZIKV to
meningoencephalitis (14), acute myelitis (15), microcephaly (16) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) (17).
Diagnosis has been performed throughout molecular techniques, useful only during the acute phase of infection. In the present application, we propose to develop of serodiagnostic assay for the detection of recent and remote Zika virus infections avoiding cross- reactivity with other flavivirus present in endemic regions. |