Here, we show that ZIKV infection induces a robust cellular innate immune response including rapid dendritic cell, monocyte, and neutrophil recruitment into the blood and tissues within the first week of infection and, interestingly, greater ZIKV persistence and broader tissue tropism, especially in the males, correlates with higher frequencies of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in the blood and higher levels of MCP-1 production in the plasma within the first 4 days of infection. This evidence concerns the gene CCL2 and infection.