Neonatal Zika virus infection causes epileptic seizures, viral persistence and long-term behavioral impairment

Using immunocompromised mice to identify mechanisms of Zika virus transmission and pathogenesis

“…Therapeutic studies have indicated a potential for improving CNS developmental outcomes during fetal viral infection. For example, administration of anti‐TNF antibodies reduced the incidence of seizures in neonatal mice injected intracerebrally with ZIKV . Hence, measures taken to minimize the pro‐inflammatory response in the CNS of fetuses with ZIKV infection may improve developmental outcomes.…”

“…Fetal mice exposed to ZIKV later in development generally present with neurodevelopmental pathologies such as cortical thinning, neuronal death, reduced neural progenitor proliferation, white matter damage and gliosis (Table , part c). One study found that neonatal mice injected intracerebrally with ZIKV have increased levels of Tnf , Il6 , Il1b , Nos2 and Ccxcl1 mRNA in their brains at the peak of viral replication, which are associated with increased incidence of seizure . Hence, virus‐associated neuroinflammation may contribute to these neuropathologies.…”