To assess whether the MOs has any effect on reduction of viral load in brain, homogenized brain samples from all the treatment groups were subjected to plaque assay as described in materials and methods section. Number of PFU/mL of the brain homogenate was found to be significantly higher in both JEV and JEV+SC-MO groups when compared to Sham (p,0.001). Viral PFUs were found to be significantly reduced following 39 MO and 59 MO treatment when compared to only JEV-infected or JEV+SC-MO group (p,0.001) ( Figure 3A) .