Macaque Models of Prenatal and Postnatal Zika Virus Exposure and Developmental Outcomes.

This article reviews developmental outcomes in rhesus macaque models of prenatal and postnatal Zika virus (ZIKV) exposure to better understand infant neurodevelopmental deficits and potential biomarkers. Visual orientation and motor impairments were the most consistently observed deficits in ZIKV-exposed infant macaques, with prolonged maternal viral RNAemia—defined as detectable viral RNA in blood for more than 10 days—emerging as a possible biomarker associated with worse developmental outcomes in prenatal exposure studies. The review highlights variability in study designs, viral strains, inoculation timing, and developmental assessments, which complicates definitive conclusions but underscores the translational value of nonhuman primate models for identifying early predictors of ZIKV-related developmental impairments. It suggests that longitudinal maternal viral RNA monitoring and standardized neonatal assessments could improve early identification of at-risk infants and guide targeted interventions to mitigate visual and motor deficits.