%0 Journal Article
%T Does Zika Really Have the Capacity to Affect the Nervous System and Cause Microcephaly or Intracranial Calcifications?
%A Lawrence Broxmeyer
%A Refik Kanjhan
%J Modern Research in Inflammation
%P 20-30
%@ 2169-9690
%D 2016
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/mri.2016.52003
%X Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that
brain abnormalities in infants with laboratory-confirmed Zika infection include
microcephaly, disrupted brain growth, intracranial calcifications, and abnormal
eye findings¡ªit is not known presently if the Zika virus itself causes any of
these. In a recent 2016 review of Zika dealing with possible brain abnormalities
appearing with Zika, Melo et al. mention that among the Flaviviruses, which Zika is, such brain insults and
pathologic findings are practically unheard of. Melo et al. conclude that until more cases are diagnosed and more
histopathological proofs are obtained, the possibility of other causes besides
Zika cannot be ruled out. This paper considers just such other possible causes
that have, to this point, escaped general notice. The Aedes aegypti and
other Aedes species can transmit tiny viral-like, cell-wall-deficient
mycobacterial forms, independent of viruses, yet prevalent in the very same
Rhesus Monkey used in the original 1952 Zika communication¡ªwhich spoke of ¡°A filterable
transmissible agent¡±. In addition, the universal fetal prenatal vaccination of
Brazilian neonates is considered, strongly discouraged by The Royal Children¡¯s
Hospital in Melbourne, which forbids BCG vaccination of pregnant women and
those immunosuppressed or already having tuberculosis (TB) or AIDS. And finally
thought is focused on the prime candidate itself, towards explaining what an
alternative cause for ¡°Zika¡± might look like¡ªan infectious agent with transmissible,
filterable, viral-like forms. One which can be transmitted by the very same
Aedes mosquitoes that carry Zika¡ªone that is neurotrophic, and extremely
prevalent in Brazil¡ªand that can disrupt brain growth, cause microcephalus,
cause a fever, is sexually transmissible, instigates Guillain-Barr¨¦ syndrome and
causes cranial calcifications¡ªthe