SIV/SHIV-Zika coinfection does not alter disease pathogenesis in adult non-pregnant Rhesus Macaques

Abstract

Due to the large geographical overlap of populations exposed to Zika virus (ZIKV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), understanding disease pathogenesis in such coinfections is urgently needed. We used chronically infected simian immunodeficiency virus and chimeric simian human immunodeficiency virus (SIV/SHIV) macaques and inoculated with ZIKV. Plasma viral loads of both SIV/SHIV and ZIKV showed no significant changes as compared to ZIKV alone-infected animals. Tissue clearance of ZIKV was observed similarly. Furthermore, minimal changes in cytokines/chemokines were observed. Collectively, these data suggest that coinfection may not alter disease pathogenesis and warrants large HIV-ZIKV epidemiological studies to validate these findings.Author SummaryThe co-infection incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and neglected tropical infectious diseases is increasing due to the large geographical overlap of populations exposed to both of these viruses. Thus, researching on such coinfection is of particular importance. In this study, we investigated HIV-ZIKV coinfection dynamics in adult non-pregnant Rhesus Macaques model chronically infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) - or chimeric simian human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV). We found that post ZIKV inoculation, plasma viral loads were similar to ZIKV alone infected animals in addition to minimal changes of cytokines. Dynamics of SIV and SHIV also did not change. Tissue clearance of ZIKV was found 67 months later. Our findings provide insights into HIV-ZKIV coinfection to determine the alteration of their pathogenesis.