Are North American Bunyamwera Serogroup Viruses Etiologic Agents of Human Congential Defects of the Central Nervous System?
Download Article In 1941 Gregg provided the first evidence that rubella virus (family Togaviridae, genus Rubivirus) causes human congenital defects (1). Although rubella virus infection usually causes a mild disease comprising fever and rash, rubella epidemics have been associated with congenital defects in children of women who became infected during their first trimester of pregnancy (2). The risk of in utero rubella infection was reduced by the introduction of safe and effective vaccines for women of child-bearing age. Congenital abnormalities in fetal or neonatal ruminants also are related to exposure of pregnant dams to various viruses, including bovine viral diarrhea virus (family Togaviridae, genus Pestivirus), the arthropod-borne bluetongue viruses (family Reoviridae, genus Orbivirus), Wesselsbron virus (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus), Rift Valley fever virus (family Bunyaviridae, genus Phlebovirus), Nairobi sheep disease virus (family Bunyaviridae, genus Nairovirus), a
