Introdução: A Emergência de Saúde Pública de Importância Internacional foi declarada pela Organização Mundial da Saúde em fevereiro de 2016, em decorrência da notificação e resposta do governo brasileiro ao aumento da prevalência de microcefalia e outras alterações do sistema nervoso central. Esse evento é considerado uma das epidemias de maior complexidade e impacto da história da saúde pública. Objetivo: Descrever os principais marcos da epidemia de Zika vírus (ZIKAV) no Brasil, relacionando às ações de saúde pública adotadas e caracterizar as diferenças regionais com base nas taxas de incidência de ZIKAV em gestantes e de prevalência de microcefalia em casos registrados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação e no formulário de Registro de Eventos de Saúde Pública, no período de janeiro de 2015 a novembro de 2016. Metodologia: Foi realizada a revisão da literatura nas principais bases de dados e também da literatura cinzenta (protocolos, portarias, manuais e informes) buscando elementos que fundamentaram as ações de saúde pública e fatos que marcaram o histórico desta epidemia no Brasil. Também foi realizada análise descritiva e comparativa das bases de dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) e do formulário de Registro de Eventos de Saúde Pública (RESP), no Brasil no período de janeiro de 2015 a novembro de 2016. Resultados: Em 22 de outubro de 2015, a Secretaria de Saúde de Pernambuco notificou o aumento na prevalência de microcefalia, no Estado. Em 11 de novembro foi declarada a emergência de saúde pública de importância nacional e em 1º de fevereiro de 2016, a Organização Mundial da Saúde declara emergência de saúde pública de importância internacional. Entre 2015 e 2016, foram notificadas 41.473 gestantes com quadro clínico compatível com ZIKAV e, no mesmo período, foram notificados e confirmados 1.950 casos de microcefalia. Destes, 70% foram confirmados por método de imagem. Observou-se que em 2015 a região mais afetada foi a nordeste e em 2016, apesar de não apresentar a mesma magnitude, observou-se uma possível segunda onda de casos de microcefalia a partir do mês de junho, principalmente na região centro-oeste, corroborando com a maior circulação de casos de ZIKAV no primeiro semestre. Limitações: O uso de dados secundários (oportunidade, completitude, representatividade, subnotificação etc), a indisponibilidade de testes laboratoriais para ZIKAV, principalmente no início da epidemia em 2015, o conhecimento limitado sobre a doença e suas consequências, apesar dos avanços nos últimos meses, a indisponibilidade de série histórica de microcefalia e outras anomalias congênitas para essa condição e o proxy de infecção pelo ZIKAV: casos negativos de dengue e chikungunya e microcefalia relacionada à infecção. Conclusões: Conclui-se que o desencadeamento da resposta em suas quatro fases operacionais foi oportuno, apesar das limitações do conhecimento; fundamentou-se na Legislação e instrumentos próprios para resposta às ESP e na melhor evidência disponível em cada fase operacional. Até o final de 2016, a magnitude da Síndrome Congênita Associada à Infecção pelo Vírus Zika vírus (SCZ) não apresentou o mesmo padrão observado em 2015, sendo que a região Nordeste apresentou maior magnitude somente na primeira onda (setembro/2015-abril/2016); Em 2016, a região Centro-Oeste apresentou a maior magnitude de casos de SCZ, seguida das regiões Sudeste e Norte. Esse padrão corrobora com o nexo causal entre infecção pelo ZIKAV na gestação e a manifestação da SCZ. Muitos avanços foram alcançados nos últimos dois anos. No entanto, ainda há importantes lacunas no conhecimento científico sobre o espectro clínico dessa nova doença e fatores relacionados à transmissão e endemicidade. / Introduction: On February 2016, The World Health Organization declared Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This action, due to the Brazilian notification and response, after the prevalence of microcephaly and other Central Nervous System disorders increase in Northeast Region. This event is one of the most complex epidemics of the Public Health history. Objective: Describe the sequence of events which occurred from January 2015 to November 2016 in Brazil, as a result of Zika virus outbreaks and the related congenital syndrome; to characterize the main elements of the Brazilian National response to the epidemics describing the course of the dual epidemics of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy and microcephaly, from the registered cases at Brazilian National Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) and Public Health Events Registry (RESP) forms up to the first anniversary of this declaration in Brazil. Methods: To obtain a comprehensive chronologic description, of the main epidemiologic events and of the Brazilian response, we conducted a literature review and used third party (gray literature), and fundamental elements registered at the Brazilian National Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) and Public Health Events Registry (RESP) from January 2015 up to November 12th 2016. In order to describe the Brazilian response, we divided in four phases the operational response to the emergency in Brazil. Results: On October 22nd 2015 the Pernambuco Health Secretary notified the prevalence of Microcephaly increase. On November 11th 2016 the Ministry of Health declared Public Health Emergency of National Concern. On February 1st 2016 the World Health Organization declared (PHEIC) Public Health Emergency of International Concern, 41,473 pregnant women with some clinical signs, compatible with Zika virus, were notified between 2015 and 2016. In the same period, 1,950 cases of Microcephaly were reported and confirmed. From the reported cases, 70% cases were confirmed by imaging method. The Northeast Region was the most affected in 2015 and in 2016, although it did not present the same magnitude, a potential second wave of Microcephaly cases were observed, mainly in the Central Western Region. Limitations: Secondary data (opportunity, completeness, representativeness, underreporting etc.), the unavailability of laboratory tests for ZIKAV were used, mainly at the beginning of the epidemic in 2015. The limited knowledge about the disease and its consequences, despite of advanced months at the time being, combined with the unavailability of a historical series of Microcephaly and other congenital anomalies for this condition and the proxy of infection by ZIKAV: negative cases of Dengue and Chikungunya and Microcephaly related to infection. Conclusion: It was concluded that the triggering of the response, in its four operational phases, was timely despite of the knowledge limitations; it was based on the Legislation and its own instruments to respond to PHEIC, and on the most update existing evidences of the disease (self-limiting), its diagnostic and therapeutic method. To date, the magnitude of congenital syndrome associated with ZIKAV infection (SCZ) in 2016 did not follow the same pattern observed in 2015, and the Northeast Region was the region with the greatest impact of the SCZ epidemic during September 2015 thru April 2016, although with a very low expression in the end of the following year. In 2016, the pattern observed in the Central Western Region, and to a lesser extent in the Southeast and North Regions, corroborates the causal link between ZIKAV infection in pregnancy and the manifestation of Congenital Syndrome, and there are still important gaps as, scientific knowledge about the clinic aspect of this new disease and the related factors to the transmission and endemicity.

Mes études doctorales ont permis de démontrer que les souris déficientes en VIP présentent une microcéphalie ayant principalement une origine maternelle qui affecte secondairement le développement de la substance blanche. Cette production placentaire par les lymphocytes T pourrait être affectée dans des pathologies du système immunitaire. De plus, nos données indiquent qu’une déficience en VIP prédispose à l'apparition de troubles sensoriels, en particulier de la nociception. Il est donc possible que les déficits précoces de développement du cerveau murin et l'apparition de l'hypersensibilité cutanée mécanique et thermique froide soient deux facettes d'une même pathologie. Des mesures d'activité de décharge spontanée des neurones dans le thalamus sensoriel chez des mâles adultes anesthésiés ont montré que les neurones des animaux KO sont hyper-excités, ce qui suggère un traitement aberrant des informations, notamment nociceptives, ou que l'activité inhibitrice des interneurones des réseaux locaux est réduite. / The studies carried out during my PhD demonstrate that VIP-deficient mice suffer from microcephaly and as well as white matter deficits mainly due to the absence of maternal VIP during embryogenesis, Placental secretion of VIP is dependent on T lymphocytes and could be altered in pathologies of the immune system. Moreover, our data links VIP deficiency to sensory alterations, specifically, the nociceptive system. Thus, it is possible that early developmental defects and hypersensitivity to mechanical and cold stimuli are two manifestations of the same pathology. This hypothesis was reinforced following analysis of spontaneous firing patterns of neurons in the sensory thalamus of anesthetized adult males. Neurons from VIP-KO mice are hyperactive, which suggests aberrant local processing of nociceptive input or that the inhibitory inputs from local interneuron networks is reduced.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a preventable cause of mental retardation and is the severest category within Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). As gestational alcohol exposure affects fetal cognitive functioning, children with FAS present with intellectual deficits. Unfortunately FASD prevalence rates are increasing amongst infants and school-going children. The main goal of this study was to compare the neurodevelopmental subscales of infants diagnosed with FAS, Partial FAS and non- FAS. Seventy-four infants with confirmed FAS, Partial FAS or Non- FAS diagnoses were assessed using the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scale. Development assessed at 7-12 and 17-29 months of age showed that, regardless of a FAS, PFAS or Non-FAS diagnosis, all infants performed weaker at their assessment at 17-29 months. The Subscales significantly affected included Personal-Social, Eye- Hand Coordination and Performance. The infants with FAS and PFAS displayed the most marked developmental delays. From this study it can be concluded that there are definite neurodevelopmental profiles for infant's diagnosed with FAS, PFAS and/or Non-FAS, highlighting the significant impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on various aspects of infant development. / Social work / M.Diac.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a preventable cause of mental retardation and is the severest category within Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). As gestational alcohol exposure affects fetal cognitive functioning, children with FAS present with intellectual deficits. Unfortunately FASD prevalence rates are increasing amongst infants and school-going children. The main goal of this study was to compare the neurodevelopmental subscales of infants diagnosed with FAS, Partial FAS and non- FAS. Seventy-four infants with confirmed FAS, Partial FAS or Non- FAS diagnoses were assessed using the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scale. Development assessed at 7-12 and 17-29 months of age showed that, regardless of a FAS, PFAS or Non-FAS diagnosis, all infants performed weaker at their assessment at 17-29 months. The Subscales significantly affected included Personal-Social, Eye- Hand Coordination and Performance. The infants with FAS and PFAS displayed the most marked developmental delays. From this study it can be concluded that there are definite neurodevelopmental profiles for infant's diagnosed with FAS, PFAS and/or Non-FAS, highlighting the significant impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on various aspects of infant development. / Social work / M.Diac.