Teratogenic Effects and Outcomes of Congenital Oropouche Virus Infection: Current Evidence, Pathophysiological Mechanisms, and Research Priorities.
5 affiliations
- 1Ultrasound and Fetal Medicine Unit, Department Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
- 2HESAV School of Health Sciences-Vaud, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, 1022 Chavannes-près-Renens, Switzerland.
- 3Unité des Maladies infectieuses et Tropicales, Centre d'Investigation Clinique-INSERM 1424, CH de Cayenne Andrée Rosemon-Université de Guyane, 97300 Cayenne, French Guiana.
- 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, French Guiana University Hospital, 97320 Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana.
- 5Santé des populations en Amazonie, Université de Guyane, DFR Santé, 97300 Cayenne, French Guiana.
Abstract
Background
Oropouche virus (OROV), an Orthobunyavirus endemic to Latin America, has recently emerged as a pathogen of concern in pregnancy following reports of vertical transmission, fetal demise, congenital anomalies, and neonatal disease. The unprecedented 2023-2025 outbreaks in Latin America have expanded the geographic distribution of OROV and renewed concerns regarding its potential as an emerging human teratogen.Methods
We conducted a narrative comprehensive review of the literature focusing on epidemiology, maternal-fetal transmission, placental infection, experimental models, fetal and neonatal outcomes, and comparisons with other congenital arboviral infections.Results
Increasing evidence supports the ability of OROV to infect the placenta, cross the maternal-fetal interface, and invade fetal tissues. Human cases have documented miscarriage, stillbirth, fetal demise, microcephaly, ventriculomegaly, cerebral atrophy, corpus callosum abnormalities, posterior fossa defects, arthrogryposis, and neonatal death following maternal infection. Viral RNA and OROV-specific antibodies have been detected in placental, fetal, and neonatal samples, providing direct evidence of congenital infection. Experimental studies using trophoblast cultures, placental organoids, neural progenitor cells, brain organoids, and animal models have confirmed placental susceptibility, vertical transmission, fetal neurotropism, and disruption of neurodevelopment. The congenital phenotype shares important similarities with congenital Zika syndrome and other neurotropic arboviral infections.Conclusions
OROV is newly and increasingly recognized as a vertically transmissible neurotropic arbovirus with potential teratogenic effects. Although biological plausibility is supported by converging clinical and experimental findings, prospective epidemiological studies are urgently needed to quantify risks, identify determinants of fetal injury, and define long-term outcomes among affected children.
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BibTeX
@article{pomar2026teratogenic,
title = {{Teratogenic Effects and Outcomes of Congenital Oropouche Virus Infection: Current Evidence, Pathophysiological Mechanisms, and Research Priorities.}},
author = {Léo Pomar and Loïc Epelboin and Najeh Hcini},
journal = {Viruses},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/v18101101},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42944021},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Teratogenic Effects and Outcomes of Congenital Oropouche Virus Infection: Current Evidence, Pathophysiological Mechanisms, and Research Priorities.
AU - Léo Pomar
AU - Loïc Epelboin
AU - Najeh Hcini
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - Viruses
DO - 10.3390/v18101101
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42944021
AB - Background Oropouche virus (OROV), an Orthobunyavirus endemic to Latin America, has recently emerged as a pathogen of concern in pregnancy following reports of vertical transmission, fetal demise, congenital anomalies, and neonatal disease. The unprecedented 2023-2025 outbreaks in Latin America have expanded the geographic distribution of OROV and renewed concerns regarding its potential as an emerging human teratogen.Methods We conducted a narrative comprehensive review of the literature focusing on epidemiology, maternal-fetal transmission, placental infection, experimental models, fetal and neonatal outcomes, and comparisons with other congenital arboviral infections.Results Increasing evidence supports the ability of OROV to infect the placenta, cross the maternal-fetal interface, and invade fetal tissues. Human cases have documented miscarriage, stillbirth, fetal demise, microcephaly, ventriculomegaly, cerebral atrophy, corpus callosum abnormalities, posterior fossa defects, arthrogryposis, and neonatal death following maternal infection. Viral RNA and OROV-specific antibodies have been detected in placental, fetal, and neonatal samples, providing direct evidence of congenital infection. Experimental studies using trophoblast cultures, placental organoids, neural progenitor cells, brain organoids, and animal models have confirmed placental susceptibility, vertical transmission, fetal neurotropism, and disruption of neurodevelopment. The congenital phenotype shares important similarities with congenital Zika syndrome and other neurotropic arboviral infections.Conclusions OROV is newly and increasingly recognized as a vertically transmissible neurotropic arbovirus with potential teratogenic effects. Although biological plausibility is supported by converging clinical and experimental findings, prospective epidemiological studies are urgently needed to quantify risks, identify determinants of fetal injury, and define long-term outcomes among affected children.
SN - 1999-4915
ER -