Postnatal Zika virus infection is associated with persistent abnormalities in brain structure, function, and behavior in infant macaques.

ABSTRACT: The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic is associated with fetal brain lesions and other serious birth defects classified as congenital ZIKV syndrome. Postnatal ZIKV infection in infants and children has been reported; however, data on brain anatomy, function, and behavioral outcomes following infection are absent. We show that postnatal ZIKV infection of infant rhesus macaques (RMs) results in persistent structural and functional alterations of the central nervous system compared to age-matched controls. We demonstrate ZIKV lymphoid tropism and neurotropism in infant RMs and histopathologic abnormalities in the peripheral and central nervous systems including inflammatory infiltrates, astrogliosis, and Wallerian degeneration. Structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI/

SUBMITTER: Mavigner M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6186170 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature