Case Series of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Associated with Oropouche Virus Infection

Viruses. 2025 Jun 5;17(6):816. doi: 10.3390/v17060816.

Abstract

The Oropouche virus (OROV) is an arbovirus (Peribunyaviridae: Orthobunyavirus) that traditionally causes febrile outbreaks in Latin America's Amazon region. Previously, OROV was not associated with severe pregnancy outcomes. During the 2022-2024 outbreak in Brazil, OROV expanded geographically, revealing links to adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study describes six cases with varied fetal outcomes, including miscarriage, antepartum, intrauterine fetal demise (IFD), and normal development, correlating with maternal symptoms but not symptom severity. Vertical transmission was confirmed by detecting OROV through RT-qPCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry in fetal tissues. Genome sequencing from an IFD case identified a novel reassortment pattern reported in the 2022-2024 outbreak. Severe encephalomalacia, meningoencephalitis, vascular compromise, and multi-organ damage were evident, underscoring the significant risk OROV poses to fetal development and emphasizing the need for further investigation.

Keywords: fetal outcomes; oropouche virus; vertical transmission.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / virology
  • Adult
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Bunyaviridae Infections* / complications
  • Bunyaviridae Infections* / epidemiology
  • Bunyaviridae Infections* / transmission
  • Bunyaviridae Infections* / virology
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Fetal Death
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
  • Orthobunyavirus* / genetics
  • Orthobunyavirus* / isolation & purification
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / virology
  • Pregnancy Outcome*
  • Young Adult

Supplementary concepts

  • Oropouche orthobunyavirus

Associated data

  • GENBANK/PQ197202-PQ197204