The Impact of Zika Virus Infection During Infancy on Attachment in a Rhesus Macaque Model Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

ZIKV infection in rhesus macaques (RMs) during infancy has been linked with increased ventricle size and decreased amygdala and hippocampal volumes, areas important for social and emotional development, compared to controls (Mavinger, et al, 2018; Raper, et al, 2020). Previous studies have found that attachment to a primary caregiver can impact social and emotional development in later life (Harlow & Zimmermann, 1959; Hofer, 1994; Sullivan, Perry, Sloan, Kleinhaus, & Burtchen, 2011). RMs with neonatal lesions to the amygdala and hippocampus have previously been shown to have subtle alterations in bond strength to a primary caregiver. This study assesses the impact of ZIKV infection during early infancy on bonding with a primary human caregiver (PHC) in RMs at 7-8 months of age. ZIKV infection did not impact the development of a preference for the PHC over a familiar human (FH) stimulus compared to uninfected and poly-IC controls (PIC). There was a decreased frequency of reactive vocalizations in the ZIKV group compared with the PIC group and an increased frequency of affiliative behaviors in females from the ZIKV group compared to females from the PIC group. These data suggest that brain damage caused by ZIKV infection during early infancy is less severe than a neonatal amygdala lesion. 

Table of Contents

Hypothesis.....................................................................................................................................1  

Purpose and Rationale....................................................................................................................1             

Background and History of Zika Virus..............................................................................................2

Postnatal Development and Neonatal Lesions..................................................................................4   

Postnatal ZIKV Infection.................................................................................................................6

Materials and Methods....................................................................................................................8 Animals.........................................................................................................................................8

Viral Infection and Clearance………………………………………….........................................................10

Behavioral Testing………………………………………............................................................................10

Behavioral Scoring and Preference Assessment……………………………...............................................11

Statistical Analysis……………………............................................…………….....................................12 Results……………………............................................……………......................................................12 Discussion…………………............................................……………....................................................13 Conclusions…………………............................................……………..................................................16

Table 1. Behavioral Ethogram……………............................................……………...............................17

Figure Legends......................................................................................…………….........................18

Figure 1…………................................................………...................................................................19 References…………................................................………................................................................21

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology
Degree	B.S.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Psychology, Behavioral Sciences Biology, Neuroscience
Keyword	Zika Virus Attachment
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Jessica Raper, Emory University
Committee Members	Ann Chahroudi, Emory University Andrew Kazama, Emory University

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