Comparative analysis of placental transmission mechanisms for Dengue and Zika viruses: outcomes and future directions

Zika and Dengue viruses are arboviral pathogens capable of crossing the placental barrier, representing major global health risks for maternal and fetal outcomes. In this narrative review, we compare their epidemiology, clinical consequences in pregnancy, and underlying mechanisms of vertical transmission. Emerging molecular insights are highlighted, including disruptions to placental signaling pathways such as JAK/STAT and mTOR, and strategies to evade Hofbauer cells and the immune system. A comparative analysis of these processes underscores a critical need for improved understanding of placental pathophysiology, immune regulation, and molecular pathways of transmission. Identifying such mechanisms may promote vaccine development, improved diagnostics, and therapies to reduce adverse outcomes in the mother-infant dyad during maternal infection.