Neurotropic dengue virus infections

Abstract

Dengue is an acute febrile viral disease, which can affect the CNS by causing dengue encephalopathy, encephalitis, immune-mediated syndromes, dengue-associated muscle dysfunction, neuro-ophthalmic disorders and meningitis. The true prevalence of the disease remains unknown because of the under-recognition of CNS presentation. Furthermore, the mechanisms driving neurovirulence are only poorly understood. The diagnostic included immunoassays, nucleic acid amplification, and virus isolation in cerebrospinal fluid. Magnetic resonance imaging may be necessary to confirm the clinical signs and diagnosis. The intracranial infection of mice with a DENV isolate known to cause human CNS disease is a model to study the immune response, immunopathological and neurological manifestations of DENV infection.