Maternal and congenital infections arising from Zika, dengue and Chikungunya arboviruses in Salvador, Brazil

Background: Salvador was one of the Brazilian cities most affected during the 2015 Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with enrolment of parturients and their newborns. Results: Positive IgM antibodies for ZIKV, dengue (DENV) and Chikungunya (CHIKV) were present in 6.9, 11.9 and 22.8% of the parturients, and IgG antibodies were detected in 72.3, 92.3 and 38.6%, respectively. No cases of DENV congenital infection were identified. ZIKV and CHIKV congenital infections were observed in 16.5 and 13% of newborns, respectively. Conclusions: High exposure rates to the three arboviruses and the identification of newborns with ZIKV and CHIKV congenital infections reinforces the necessity of ZIKV and CHIKV prenatal and neonatal screening in endemic regions.