Arboviruses that cause human diseases: Their attention-worthy impact on the nervous system

Abstract

Arboviruses are viruses spread by arthropods that can infect humans, resulting in disease and even death. Consequently, these viruses profoundly impact human survival and threaten global public health. Neurological diseases are serious complications of arbovirus infection, and a variety of arboviruses, including chikungunya virus, Semliki Forest virus, Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Western equine encephalitis virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, West Nile virus, dengue virus, Zika virus, and La Crosse virus, have been identified as causative agents of neurological diseases. Consequently, the early prevention and control of arbovirus transmission are of utmost importance. The primary objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying arbovirus-induced neurological diseases. Specifically, these viruses, classified into the families Togaviridae, Flaviviridae, and Peribunyaviridae, can potentially cause infections in humans. Furthermore, by integrating the clinical manifestations of arbovirus infection with laboratory assessments, this review aims to summarize the differential diagnosis of neurological syndromes associated with these viruses.