What question did this study set out to answer?

To investigate the link between maternal Zika virus infection during early pregnancy and severe fetal brain abnormalities.

Zika Virus Associated with Microcephaly

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Case report demonstrates severe brain damage and viral genome recovery in a fetus with microcephaly, suggesting vertical transmission of Zika virus.

To investigate the link between maternal Zika virus infection during early pregnancy and severe fetal brain abnormalities.
Clinical and prenatal ultrasonography assessment of an expectant mother presenting with first-trimester febrile illness and rash.
Fetal autopsy following pregnancy termination, including macroscopic brain pathology, histopathology, electron microscopy, and RT-PCR viral testing.
Autopsy demonstrated severe micrencephaly, near-total agyria, hydrocephalus, multifocal cortical and subcortical dystrophic calcifications, cortical displacement, and mild focal inflammation.
RT-PCR and electron microscopy identified Zika virus within fetal brain tissue, enabling recovery of the complete viral genome.

Mlakar et al. (2016) studied this question.

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Case report demonstrates severe brain damage and viral genome recovery in a fetus with microcephaly, suggesting vertical transmission of Zika virus.