Pediatric Drug Nitazoxanide: A Potential Choice for Control of Zika

Cao, Rui-Yuan; Xu, Yong-fen; Zhang, Tian-Hong; Yang, Jing-Jing; Yuan, Ye; Hao, Pei; Shi, Yi; Zhong, Jin; Zhong, Wu

Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus that was first isolated in Uganda in 1947, has a positive-strand ribonucleic acid (RNA) genome of approximately 11 000 nucleotides. Zika virus can be transmitted by Aedes spp mosquitoes and also through sexual contact, blood transfusion, urine, saliva, and vertically from mother to fetus [1] . Since a large Zika outbreak happened in Brazil in 2014, ZIKV transmission has been reported in more than 60 countries and regions globally. Although 80% of patients infected with ZIKV are asymptomatic [2] , it can lead to fetal microcephaly in pregnant women [3] , and it may increase risk of neurological disorders and myelitis in infected adults [4] . The association between ZIKV infection and testis damage was proved in a mouse model recently, arising the concern between ZIKV infection and infertility in male [5] . To protect the public health, especially to avoid birth defects, it is necessary to find a safe drug that can be taken by mouth (orally) for prophylactic and therapeutic use during an epidemic.