Immune Netw.  2017 Oct;17(5):287-297. 10.4110/in.2017.17.5.287.

Understanding the Pathogenesis of Zika Virus Infection Using Animal Models

• Krause KK
• Azouz F
• Shin OS
• Kumar M

• KMID: 2400634
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2017.17.5.287

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a member of Flaviviridae family that has emerged as a pathogen of significant public health importance. The rapid expansion of ZIKV in the South and Central America has recently gained medical attention emphasizing the capacity of ZIKV to spread to non-endemic regions. ZIKV infection during pregnancy has been demonstrated to cause microcephaly and other fetal developmental abnormalities. An increased incidence of Guillain-Barre syndrome, an immune mediated neuropathy of the peripheral nervous system, has also been reported in ZIKV-infected patients in French Polynesia and Brazil. No effective therapies currently exist for treating patients infected with ZIKV. Despite the relatively short time interval, an intensive effort by the global scientific community has resulted in development of animal models to study multiple aspects of ZIKV biology. Several animal models have been established to investigate pathogenesis of ZIKV in adults, pregnant mothers, and developing fetuses. Here we review the remarkable progress of newly developed small and large animal models for understanding ZIKV pathogenesis.

Keyword

Zika virus; Animal model; Etiology

MeSH Terms

Adult
Animals*
Biology
Brazil
Central America
Fetal Development
Fetus
Flaviviridae
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Humans
Incidence
Microcephaly
Models, Animal*
Mothers
Peripheral Nervous System
Polynesia
Pregnancy
Public Health
Zika Virus Infection*
Zika Virus*

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Characteristics of animals models of ZIKV infection.

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