Advances and perspectives for animal models of chikungunya virus infection

With the global warming, the expansion of transportation networks, a tremendous increase in international travel and exchange, and the ongoing evolution of viruses, chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has spread beyond its African origins and achieved global distribution, posing a significant threat to public health worldwide. Under such circumstances, animal models serve as indispensable tools for elucidating CHIKV pathogenesis and developing antiviral strategies. The currently established animal models of CHIKV infection can recapitulate various aspects of the clinical disease at different levels of complexity. However, each model possesses distinct advantages and limitations, rendering them suitable for rather specific research applications. Furthermore, the clinical realities of CHIKV infection in patients with comorbidities or coinfections with other viruses, coupled with emerging initiatives to reduce animal model reliance, present substantial challenges for the future development and application of these models. This review summarizes the natural history and susceptible host of CHIKV, recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis and animal model development, and prospects for animal models of CHIKV infection. The aim is to provide a reference for the selection, utilization, and development of appropriate animal models for CHIKV research.