Evolutions and upcoming on Zika virus diagnosis through an outbreak: A systematic review

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an enveloped, positive single-stranded sense RNA virus transmitted by Aedes species. Many efforts have been conducted to find a good, reliable and cost-effective test for ZIKV diagnosis. Diagnosis is still imprecise, expensive and there is not a standard model. We investigated the publications on ZIKV diagnostics and analyzed varieties of diagnostic methods, sensibility, specificity, and the evolution of new methodologies. Conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-P statement, three blocks of MeSH terms were assembled: group I: virus infection; group II: diagnostic methodologies; group III: characteristics and varieties on diagnostic methods. Search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. Eighteen articles were retrieved, reporting serological and molecular diagnostic techniques. Serum was used as the main biological material in the serological diagnosis, but urine and sperm were presented as an alternative. Molecular methods used structural and nonstructural regions of ZIKV genome. Experimental methodologies were more efficient, faster, and cheaper. Serological tests are faster and less expensive than molecular assays, but molecular assays are more specific. The use of both methodologies would be the most appropriate and reliable way to obtain correct diagnostic results.