Macaque Models of Prenatal and Postnatal Zika Virus Exposure and Developmental Outcomes
Jake Gutkes1, Nicholas P Krabbe2, Karla Ausderau3,4
1Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.
Insights
Zika virus (ZIKV) exposure in infants can cause developmental deficits. Maternal RNAemia may predict infant outcomes, suggesting blood screening for ZIKV RNA could identify at-risk infants.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Virology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Prenatal and postnatal Zika virus (ZIKV) exposure leads to developmental deficits in infants.
- Rhesus macaque models are crucial for studying ZIKV's impact on development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize and interpret developmental findings from ZIKV-exposed rhesus macaque studies.
- To identify potential biomarkers for predicting developmental deficits in infants.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of developmental outcomes from multiple ZIKV exposure studies in rhesus macaques.
- Analysis of potential correlations between maternal viremia and infant neurodevelopmental deficits.
Main Results:
- Visual orientation and motor deficits were the most frequent developmental issues observed.
- Prolonged maternal ZIKV RNAemia showed a potential association with poorer infant developmental outcomes in prenatal exposure models.
Conclusions:
- Longitudinal maternal ZIKV RNA screening may help identify infants at risk for visual and motor deficits.
- Variability in research protocols complicates definitive conclusions, necessitating further standardized research.
Abstract:
Prenatal and postnatal Zika virus (ZIKV) exposure can result in a constellation of developmental deficits in human infants that present during early childhood. Translational rhesus macaque models have been developed to interrogate these deficits. Here, we summarize and interpret the developmental findings from rhesus macaque studies of prenatal or postnatal ZIKV exposure. We looked for potential biomarkers that could be used to identify infants at risk for developmental deficits. Visual orientation and motor deficits were the most common developmental deficits across the studies. We identified a potential association between prolonged maternal RNAemia and worse infant developmental outcomes in prenatal exposure studies. Therefore, longitudinal screening of maternal blood for ZIKV RNA may help identify human infants at risk for visual orientation and motor deficits in early childhood; however, the diversity of research protocols across the groups made it challenging to make definitive associations.
