High-dose ZIKV infection during pregnancy dramatically affects newborn survival in a model without vertical transmission

Maternal behavior (MB) comprises several actions performed by the mother that will support the development of the newborn and they are essential for the health and survival of the offspring. The expression of such behavior is mediated, in part, by the action of placental hormones that modulate the maternal central nervous system even before birth, determining the MB in the postnatal period. Maternal Zika Virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy is associated with damage to the placenta, including changes in the hormone production region. However, it hasn’t yet been investigated whether these damages impact postnatal.