Nervous System Manifestations of Arboviral Infections

Abstract

Purpose of review: Complex environmental factors and human intervention influence the spread of arthropod vectors and the cycle of transmission of arboviruses. The spectrum of clinical manifestations is diverse, ranging from serious presentations like viral hemorrhagic fever (e.g., dengue, yellow fever, rift valley fever) or shock syndromes (e.g., dengue virus) to organ-specific illness like meningoencephalitis.

Recent findings: A spectrum of clinical neurologic syndromes with potential acute devastating consequences or long-term sequelae may result from some arboviral infections.

Summary: In this review, we describe some of the most frequent and emerging neuro-invasive arboviral infections, spectrum of neurologic disorders including encephalitis, meningitis, myelitis or poliomyelitis, acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and ocular syndromes.

Keywords: Chikungunya; Encephalitis; Guillain-Barre syndrome; Japanese encephalitis; Meningitis; Transverse myelitis; Yellow fever; Zika.

Fig. 1

Map of arbovirus distribution around the world