Abstract
Neurotropic viruses are those viruses that can cause central nervous system (CNS) diseases with both neuroinvasive and neurovirulence properties. It comprises a wide range of viruses, including herpes simplex virus, poliovirus, enteroviruses, parechovirus, West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, measles, and mumps viruses among others. Some of these viruses are highly neuroinvasive and neurovirulent, while others are weakly neuroinvasive and neurovirulent. Moreover, some of them, like herpes simplex viruses, are highly neuroinvasive but weakly neurovirulent for the peripheral nervous system and highly neurovirulent but weakly neuroinvasive for the central nervous system. All these disparities are a result of differences in their genomic constitution, associated vectors, geographical region, and environmental factors. Therefore, a successful intervention will be almost impossible without a clear understanding of the molecular biology and epidemiology of these viruses. Thus, we conducted a review of the published studies on the molecular biology and epidemiology of the common neurotropic viruses to make the viral genetic makeup more understandable for targeted intervention and provide the morbidity and mortality data of the different neurotropic viruses for more serious action.
Highlights
BackgroundA large number of viruses have been implicated in many neurological diseases in different parts of the world which were shown to disrupt the anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in deformity and a high fatality rate
Effective therapeutic measures are needed to address the problems caused by these viruses, which can only be achieved if the molecular biology and the epidemiology of the viruses are fully understood
Herpes simplex viruses (HSVs) are the most common pathogens isolated among both children and adults in the United States (US), Australia, and Italy, while in Southern Vietnam, the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the most frequent cause of viral encephalitis among children
Summary
A large number of viruses have been implicated in many neurological diseases in different parts of the world which were shown to disrupt the anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in deformity and a high fatality rate. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, occurs in North, Central, and South America and is one of the most important arbovirus infections in North America It accounts for approximately 35% - 60% of aseptic meningitis in all symptomatic cases in children [13, 15]. Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus, that was discovered in Uganda in 1947, which later caused outbreaks in Micronesia, French Polynesia, and South and Central America It was first isolated in humans in 1952, with only sporadic cases reported in Africa and parts of Asia. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) belongs to the family Arenaviridae, and it is the only member of the family that causes diseases in humans It is an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus with the genome containing two segments, the small (S) and the large (L) segments. The risk factors for transmission include low socioeconomic status, sexual activity, overcrowding, and increasing birth order [47,48,49]
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