Zika Virus and Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Abstract

Recent studies revealed an association between Zika virus infection and a variety of neurological disorders, including microcephaly, meningoencephalitis, myelitis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Following the first report of a patient diagnosed with GBS after Zika virus infection in December 2013, the number of GBS patients significantly increased in endemic countries, such as French-Polynesia and Latin American countries. Electrophysiological studies suggested that patients suffering from GBS associated with Zika virus infection manifest acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP), rather than acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN). Causative autoantibodies, such as the anti-ganglioside antibodies in AMAN associated with Campylobacter jejuni infection, have not been identified in GBS associated with Zika virus infection. However, a recent study revealed a high level of peptide sharing between Zika virus polyprotein and human proteins related to myelin, demyelination, and axonal neuropathies. Additionally, another study reported significant peptide overlap between Zika virus and Cytomegalovirus, which is also related to microcephaly and AIDP. Further reserch is needed to elucidate the pathogenesis of GBS associated with Zika virus infection.