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Background The purpose of this exploratory study was to evaluate different accelerated tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine schedules for last-minute travellers. Methods In a single-centre, open-label pilot study, 77 TBE-naïve Belgian soldiers were randomized to one of the following five schedules with FSME-Immun®: group 1 ('classical accelerated' schedule) received one intramuscular (IM) dose at Day 0 and Day 14, group 2 two IM doses at Day 0, group 3 two intradermal (ID) doses at Day 0, group 4 two ID doses at Day 0 and Day 7 and group 5 two ID doses at Day 0 and Day 14. The last dose(s) of the primary vaccination scheme were given after 1 year: IM (1 dose) or ID (2 doses). TBE virus neutralizing antibodies were measured in a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT90 and 50) at Days 0, 14, 21, 28, Months 3, 6, 12 and 12+21 days. Seropositivity was defined as neutralizing antibody titres ≥10. Results The median age was 19–19.5 years in each group. Median time to seropositivity up to Day 28 was shortest for PRNT90 in ID-group 4 and for PRNT50 in all ID groups. Seroconversion until Day 28 peaked highest for PRNT90 in ID-group 4 (79%) and for PRNT50 in ID-groups 4 and 5 (both 100%). Seropositivity after the last vaccination after 12 months was high in all groups. Previous yellow fever vaccination was reported in 16% and associated with lower geometric mean titres of TBE-specific antibodies at all-time points. The vaccine was generally well tolerated. However, mild to moderate local reactions occurred in 73–100% of ID compared with 0–38% of IM vaccinations, and persistent discolouration was observed in nine ID vaccinated individuals. Conclusion The accelerated two-visit ID schedules might offer a better immunological alternative to the recommended classical accelerated IM schedule, but an aluminium-free vaccine would be preferable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menghan Yu,1 Xiaoshu Fu,1 Yanli Zhu,2 Miao Li,3 Min Wu,1 Entong Zhou,1 Hanwen Dong,1 Likun Wang,1 Ruoxi Wang,4 Fang Liu,2 Chunlai Jiang,1 Xiangwei Kong,5 Weiheng Su1,6 1National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China; 2People’s Hospital of Jiangyuan District, Baishan, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Neurosurgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China; 4School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 5Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, People’s Republic of China; 6Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Weiheng Su, National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China, Email suweiheng@jlu.edu.cn Xiangwei Kong, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, People’s Republic of China, Email tenbpro@163.comPurpose: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infections result in severe central nervous system diseases in humans across Asia and Europe. In China, cases of tick-borne encephalitis are primarily caused by the Far East subtype of TBEV, which exhibits a distinct disease course compared to other extensively studied subtypes. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the nucleic acid and serological diagnostic characteristics of patients infected with the TBEV in China, which is the focus of investigation in the present study.Methods: This study established a TaqMan qPCR approach to detect TBEV RNA in the serum with optimal specificity, sensitivity, and precision. Using TaqMan qPCR and ELISA assay for TBEV IgM detection, serum samples from 63 hospitalized patients bitten by ticks in Northeast China were investigated for diagnostic characteristics.Results: Twenty-five patients were positive for viral RNA; nineteen patients were positive for IgM, and nine were positive for both viral RNA and IgM. Through comparative analysis, TBEV RNA copies were negatively correlated with the virus incubation period. IgM levels were positively correlated with the clinical symptom scores of patients. The severity of clinical symptoms and the length after the tick bite could be used to predict the IgM occurrence. Furthermore, IgM levels and viral RNA copies were not correlated in double-positive patients.Conclusion: Both nucleic acid and serological detection methods exhibited distinct windows for detecting TBEV infection, with some overlap, and were associated with specific correlated factors. This study provided novel insights into the diagnosis and course of TBEV-induced tick-borne encephalitis in China.Keywords: tick-borne encephalitis, TBE, tick-borne encephalitis virus, TBEV, TaqMan qPCR, IgM

Despite the availability of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccines, the incidence of TBE is increasing. To understand the historical patterns of infection, we conducted a global meta-analysis of studies before December 2023 reporting human antibody prevalence against TBEV (TBE virus) among general or high-risk population groups stratified by country, collection year, serological method, and vaccination status. Pooled data were compared within groups over time by random-effects modeling. In total, 2403 articles were retrieved; 130 articles published since 1959 were included. Data were extracted from 96 general populations (117,620 participants) and 71 high-risk populations (53,986 participants) across 33 countries. Germany had the most population groups (21), and Poland had the most participants (44,688). Seven serological methods were used; conventional IgG/IgM ELISAs were the most common (44%). Four studies (1.7%) used NS1-ELISA serology. Between 1956–1991 and 1992–2022, anti-TBEV seroprevalence remained at ~2.75% across all population groups from "high-risk" areas (p = 0.458) but decreased within general populations (1.7% to 1%; p = 0.001) and high-risk populations (5.1% to 1.3%; p < 0.001), possibly due to differences in the study methodologies between periods. This global summary explores how serological methods can be used to assess TBE vaccination coverage and potential exposure to TBEV or measure TBE burden and highlights the need for standardized methodology when conducting TBE seroprevalence studies to compare across populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the clinical characteristics and factors associated with disease severity in a Norwegian cohort of hospitalized patients with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Methods: This observational multicenter study included hospitalized patients with TBE in the endemic area in the southeastern region of Norway from 2018 to 2022. Clinical signs and findings from laboratory tests, EEG, CT and MRI scans were recorded. Patient characteristics were compared among those with mild, moderate, and severe TBE, and factors associated with disease severity were identified. Results: Nearly all eligible patients were included in the final cohort (153/189 participants, 81%). The median age was 56 years, 63% were men, and 7% were vaccinated against TBE; no participants were fully vaccinated. TBE presented as mild (meningeal) disease in 31% of patients and as moderate or severe (encephalitic) disease in 54% and 14% of patients, respectively. We found that 46% of the patients had a monophasic course, 64% had hyponatremia, and 7% presented with central nervous system (CNS) symptoms without pleocytosis in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Dysesthesia, a symptom previously not described, was reported in 10% of the patients. Most objective findings were related to the CNS. Preexisting comorbidities, CRP and CSF protein levels were predictors of more severe disease. Conclusion: This novel presentation of a large Norwegian cohort supports TBE as a serious disease in the southeastern region of Norway. The majority of hospitalized patients presented with encephalitis, and fewer presented with meningitis. Comorbidities, CRP and CSF protein levels were associated with more severe disease. Trial registration: Prosjekt #2,296,959 – The Norwegian Tick-borne Encephalitis Study – NOTES. Acute phase characteristics and long-term outcomes. – Cristin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The only commercially available thoracic branched endoprosthesis (TBE) for treatment of the aortic arch was released in 2022. Limited data outside of clinical trial results have been reported. This study describes the demographics, anatomic details, and outcomes for patients treated for zone 0 to 2 using TBEs outside of a clinical trial. All patients treated using TBEs for zone 0 to 2 were included. Patients treated as part of the clinical trial for zone 0 to 1 (n = 6) were excluded. Patient demographics, comorbidities, anatomic and operative details, and outcomes were reported. Outcomes and survival were then compared between groups. Of 40 patients, six patients underwent repair of zone 0, three of zone 1, and 31 of zone 2. There were no differences in demographics, comorbidities, or operative details by zone of treatment; however, the frequency of genetic aortopathy differed (zone 0: 0%; zone 1: 67%; and zone 2: 6.4%; P <.01). Seventy-three percent of patients were treated for dissection vs 27% with isolated aneurysms. Of the patients, 2.5% were treated for rupture, 22% were treated for symptomatic aneurysms, and 75% were treated electively. Forty-eight percent of repairs included a proximal cuff, and 83% received distal extension. Technical success was achieved in 100% of patients. Mean fluoroscopy time was 18 minutes, and median fluoroscopy dose was 416 mGy. Sixty percent of patients had prior aortic ascending/arch repair. TBE was planned as part of a complete thoracoabdominal repair in 45% of patients. Thirty-day mortality was 2.5% overall, with a single death in a zone 0 patient that occurred at day 1 due to a myocardial infarction. There were no reinterventions within 30 days. All other outcomes were similar. The 30-day stroke rate was 5.0%. The strokes occurred at day 6 (zone 1) and day 15 (zone 2); however, both were due to occlusion of a prior proximal surgical bypass and unrelated to the TBE side branch or embolization. Specifically, both patients had occlusion of a branch of their prior zone 1 or zone 2 arch replacement. An endoleak occurred in 7.5% of patients at 30-day follow-up (type II: 5.0%; unknown: 2.5%). At a mean follow-up of 6.6 months, 100% of side branches were patent. Repair of the aortic arch including TBE can be performed electively and urgently with acceptable stroke and death rates. TBE provides a valuable tool for patients requiring complete repair of a thoracoabdominal aneurysm. Continued investigation is underway to assess long-term safety and efficacy outside of the clinical trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO), defined manometrically by impaired esophagogastric junction relaxation (EGJ) with preserved peristalsis, can be artifactual, due to secondary etiologies (mechanical, medication-induced), or a true motility disorder. The purpose of this review is to go over the evolving approach to diagnosing and treating clinically relevant EGJOO. Recent Findings: Timed barium esophagram (TBE) and the functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) are useful to identify clinically relevant EGJOO that merits lower esophageal sphincter (LES) directed therapies. There are no randomized controlled trials evaluating EJGOO treatment. Uncontrolled trials show effectiveness for pneumatic dilation and peroral endoscopic myotomy to treat confirmed EGJOO; Botox and Heller myotomy may also be considered but data for confirmed EGJOO is more limited. Summary: Diagnosis of clinically relevant idiopathic EGJOO requires symptoms, exclusion of mechanical and medication-related etiologies, and confirmation of EGJ obstruction by TBE or FLIP. Botox LES injection has limited durability, it can be used in patients who are not candidates for other treatments. PD and POEM are effective in confirmed EGJOO, Heller myotomy may also be considered but data for confirmed EGJOO is limited. Randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify optimal management of EGJOO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Ticks are vectors of various pathogens, including tick-borne encephalitis virus causing TBE and bacteria such as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum causing e.g. viral-bacterial co-infections (TBE + LB/HGA), which pose diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Since these infections are usually accompanied by inflammation and oxidative stress causing metabolic modifications, including phospholipids, the aim of the study was to assess the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids and their metabolism (ROS- and enzyme-dependent) products in the blood plasma of patients with TBE and TBE + LB/HGA before and after pharmacotherapy. Methods The total antioxidant status was determined using 2,20-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid. The phospholipid and free fatty acids were analysed by gas chromatography. Lipid peroxidation was estimated by measuring small molecular weight reactive aldehyde, malondialdehyde and neuroprostanes. The reactive aldehyde was determined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The activity of enzymes was examined spectrophotometrically. An analysis of endocannabinoids and eicosanoids was performed using a Shimadzu UPLC system coupled with an electrospray ionization source to a Shimadzu 8060 Triple Quadrupole system. Receptor expression was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The reduced antioxidant status as a result of infection was accompanied by a decrease in the level of phospholipid arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in TBE, an increase in DHA in co-infection and in free DHA in TBE with an increase in the level of lipid peroxidation products. The enhanced activity of enzymes metabolizing phospholipids and free PUFAs increased the level of endocannabinoids and eicosanoids, while decreased 15-PGJ2 and PGE2 was accompanied by activation of granulocyte receptors before pharmacotherapy and only tending to normalize after treatment. Conclusion Since classical pharmacotherapy does not prevent disorders of phospholipid metabolism, the need to support treatment with antioxidants may be suggested.

Background: Ticks are vectors of various pathogens, including tick-borne encephalitis virus causing TBE and bacteria such as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum causing e.g. viral-bacterial co-infections (TBE + LB/HGA), which pose diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Since these infections are usually accompanied by inflammation and oxidative stress causing metabolic modifications, including phospholipids, the aim of the study was to assess the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids and their metabolism (ROS- and enzyme-dependent) products in the blood plasma of patients with TBE and TBE + LB/HGA before and after pharmacotherapy. Methods: The total antioxidant status was determined using 2,20-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid. The phospholipid and free fatty acids were analysed by gas chromatography. Lipid peroxidation was estimated by measuring small molecular weight reactive aldehyde, malondialdehyde and neuroprostanes. The reactive aldehyde was determined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The activity of enzymes was examined spectrophotometrically. An analysis of endocannabinoids and eicosanoids was performed using a Shimadzu UPLC system coupled with an electrospray ionization source to a Shimadzu 8060 Triple Quadrupole system. Receptor expression was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The reduced antioxidant status as a result of infection was accompanied by a decrease in the level of phospholipid arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in TBE, an increase in DHA in co-infection and in free DHA in TBE with an increase in the level of lipid peroxidation products. The enhanced activity of enzymes metabolizing phospholipids and free PUFAs increased the level of endocannabinoids and eicosanoids, while decreased 15-PGJ2 and PGE2 was accompanied by activation of granulocyte receptors before pharmacotherapy and only tending to normalize after treatment. Conclusion: Since classical pharmacotherapy does not prevent disorders of phospholipid metabolism, the need to support treatment with antioxidants may be suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tick-borne encephalitis was limited to northeast portions of Italy. We report in Lombardy, a populous region in the northwest, a chamois displaying clinical signs of tickborne encephalitis virus that had multiple virus-positive ticks attached, as well as a symptomatic man. Further, we show serologic evidence of viral circulation in the area.

During the pandemic outdoor activities were encouraged to mitigate transmission risk while providing safe spaces for social interactions. Human behaviour, which may favour or disfavour, contact rates between questing ticks and humans, is a key factor impacting tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) incidence. We analyzed annual and weekly TBE cases in Finland, Norway and Sweden from 2010 to 2021 to assess trend, seasonality, and discuss changes in human tick exposure imposed by COVID-19. We compared the pre-pandemic incidence (2010–2019) with the pandemic incidence (2020–2021) by fitting a generalized linear model (GLM) to incidence data. Pre-pandemic incidence was 1.0, 0.29 and 2.8 for Finland, Norway and Sweden, respectively, compared to incidence of 2.2, 1.0 and 3.9 during the pandemic years. However, there was an increasing trend for all countries across the whole study period. Therefore, we predicted the number of cases in 2020/2021 based on a model fitted to the annual cases in 2010–2019. The incidences during the pandemic were 1.3 times higher for Finland, 1.7 times higher for Norway and no difference for Sweden. When social restrictions were enforced to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2 there were profound changes in outdoor recreational behavior. Future consideration of public health interventions that promote outdoor activities may increase exposure to vector-borne diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet is an important gateway for accessing health-related information, and data generated through web queries have been increasingly used as a complementary source for monitoring and forecasting of infectious diseases and they may partially address the issue of underreporting. In this study, we assessed whether tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)-related Internet search volume may be useful as a complementary tool for TBE surveillance in Italy. Monthly Google Trends (GT) data for TBE-related information were extracted for the period between January 2017 and September 2022, corresponding to the available time series of TBE notifications in Italy. Time series modeling was performed by applying seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) models with or without GT data. The search terms relative to tick bites reflected best the observed temporal distribution of TBE cases, showing a correlation coefficient of 0.81 (95 % CI: 0.71–0.88). Particularly, both the reported number of TBE cases and GT searches occurred mainly during the summer. The peak of disease notifications coincided with that of Google searches in 4 of 6 years. Once calibrated, SARIMA models with or without GT data were applied to a validation set. Retrospective forecast made by the model with GT data was associated with a lower prediction error and accurately predicted the peak timing. By contrast, the traditional SARIMA model underestimated the actual number of TBE notifications by 65 %. Timeliness, easy availability, low cost and transparency make monitoring of the TBE-related Internet search queries a promising addition to the traditional methods of TBE surveillance in Italy.

As long as there is only symptomatic treatment against thick-borne encephalitis (TBE) available, vaccination is considered the only prevention against infection.The national vaccination recommendations prescribe a booster vaccination every 5 years after a basic vaccination has been carried out. This study deals with the question if antibodies in sufficient concentration exist or not when the last immunization had been five years ago.The TBE titer was determined in 168 subjects using indirect ELISA and the vaccination history was collected.The results show that 97.3 % of the participants have a sufficient titer 5 years after the last booster vaccination. The time period since the last booster and the type of the vaccine influence the antibody level the most. In conclusion, it was found that by controlling the titer, it is possible to postpone a booster vaccination, if the immunization is still sufficient.

Abstract Background Despite the availability of vaccination, TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) remains a global public health problem. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the long-term efficacy of vaccinations against tick-borne encephalitis using vaccines available on the European market. Methods The analysis was conducted on the results of a systematic review conducted in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The search was performed in three databases, namely Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE (via Ovid), and the Cochrane Library database. The authors followed the PRISMA method and the selection of the articles was performed with two independent researchers. Results From a total of 199 citations, 9 studies were included in this review. According to the primary studies identified in the search, the efficacy of available anti-TBE vaccines ranges from 90.1% to 98.9%; however, in individuals above the age of 60, the protection wanes as early as one year after vaccination. Administration of a booster dose 3 years after completion of the basic vaccination schedule significantly extended the period of protection against TBE. Conclusions Anti-TBE vaccines available in Europe have a high level of efficacy. However, the level of protection against TBE is decreasing after vaccination. Therefore, in addition to the conventional schedule, booster vaccines should be administered every 5 years in individuals before the age of 60 and more frequently, e.g. every 3 years, in individuals aged 60 and beyond.

Despite the availability of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccines, the incidence of TBE is increasing. To understand the historical patterns of infection, we conducted a global meta-analysis of studies before December 2023 reporting human antibody prevalence against TBEV (TBE virus) among general or high-risk population groups stratified by country, collection year, serological method, and vaccination status. Pooled data were compared within groups over time by random-effects modeling. In total, 2403 articles were retrieved; 130 articles published since 1959 were included. Data were extracted from 96 general populations (117,620 participants) and 71 high-risk populations (53,986 participants) across 33 countries. Germany had the most population groups (21), and Poland had the most participants (44,688). Seven serological methods were used; conventional IgG/IgM ELISAs were the most common (44%). Four studies (1.7%) used NS1-ELISA serology. Between 1956–1991 and 1992–2022, anti-TBEV seroprevalence remained at ~2.75% across all population groups from “high-risk” areas (p = 0.458) but decreased within general populations (1.7% to 1%; p = 0.001) and high-risk populations (5.1% to 1.3%; p < 0.001), possibly due to differences in the study methodologies between periods. This global summary explores how serological methods can be used to assess TBE vaccination coverage and potential exposure to TBEV or measure TBE burden and highlights the need for standardized methodology when conducting TBE seroprevalence studies to compare across populations.

ABSTRACTDuring the pandemic outdoor activities were encouraged to mitigate transmission risk while providing safe spaces for social interactions. Human behaviour, which may favour or disfavour, contact rates between questing ticks and humans, is a key factor impacting tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) incidence.We analyzed annual and weekly TBE cases in Finland, Norway and Sweden from 2010 to 2021 to assess trend, seasonality, and discuss changes in human tick exposure imposed by COVID-19. We compared the pre-pandemic incidence (2010–2019) with the pandemic incidence (2020–2021) by fitting a generalized linear model (GLM) to incidence data.Pre-pandemic incidence was 1.0, 0.29 and 2.8 for Finland, Norway and Sweden, respectively, compared to incidence of 2.2, 1.0 and 3.9 during the pandemic years. However, there was an increasing trend for all countries across the whole study period. Therefore, we predicted the number of cases in 2020/2021 based on a model fitted to the annual cases in 2010–2019. The incidences during the pandemic were 1.3 times higher for Finland, 1.7 times higher for Norway and no difference for Sweden. When social restrictions were enforced to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2 there were profound changes in outdoor recreational behavior. Future consideration of public health interventions that promote outdoor activities may increase exposure to vector-borne diseases.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral arthropod infection, endemic to large parts of Europe and Asia, and is characterised by neurological involvement, which can range from mild to severe, and in 33–60% of cases, it leads to a post-encephalitis syndrome and long-term morbidity. While TBE virus, now identified as Orthoflavivirus encephalitidis, was originally isolated in 1937, the pathogenesis of TBE is not fully appreciated with the mode of transmission (blood, tick, alimentary), viral strain, host immune response, and age, likely helping to shape the disease phenotype that we explore in this review. Importantly, the incidence of TBE is increasing, and due to global warming, its epidemiology is evolving, with new foci of transmission reported across Europe and in the UK. As such, a better understanding of the symptomatology, diagnostics, treatment, and prevention of TBE is required to inform healthcare professionals going forward, which this review addresses in detail. To this end, the need for robust national surveillance data and randomised control trial data regarding the use of various antivirals (e.g., Galidesivir and 7-deaza-2′-CMA), monoclonal antibodies, and glucocorticoids is required to improve the management and outcomes of TBE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an infection by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) that results in symptoms of central nervous system inflammation. TBE is endemic in Latvia and other European countries. TBE vaccines are commonly used in Latvia, but vaccine effectiveness estimates are limited. Study staff at Rīga Stradinš University conducted nationwide active surveillance for TBEV infections. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid were ELISA-tested for TBEV-specific IgG and IgM antibodies. Vaccination history was collected by interview and medical record review. Utilizing data from surveillance and population surveys, vaccine effectiveness (with 95% CIs) and cases averted were estimated using the screening method. There were 587 laboratory-identified TBE cases from 2018 to 2020; 98.1% (576/587) were unvaccinated, 1.5% (9/587) were unknown or partially vaccinated, and 0.3% (2/587) were fully vaccinated (three-dose primary series and appropriately timed boosters). TBE resulted in the death of 1.7% (10/587) of TBE cases. TBE vaccine history was ascertained from 92.0% (13 247/14 399) people from the general population: 38.6% (5113/13 247) were unvaccinated, 26.3% (3484/13 247) were fully vaccinated, and 35.1% (4650/13 247) were partially vaccinated. TBE vaccine effectiveness was 99.5% (98.0–99.9) against TBE, 99.5% (97.9–99.9) against TBE hospitalization, 99.3% (94.8–99.9) against moderate/severe TBE, and 99.2% (94.4–99.9) against TBE hospitalization >12 days. From 2018 to 2020, vaccination averted 906 TBE cases, including 20 deaths. TBE vaccine was highly effective in preventing TBE, moderate and severe disease, and prolonged hospitalization. To prevent life-threatening TBE, TBE vaccine uptake and compliance should be increased in Latvia and other European regions where TBE is endemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a 23-year-old patient who presented to the general practitioner due to persisting headache, fever, and vomiting. In the further course, a tetraparesis dominated on the right side, dysphagia and dysarthria occurred, and a general tonic-clonic seizure. Further examinations confirmed tick-borne encephalomyelitis as well as polyradiculitis. After two months of rehabilitation, neuropsychological as well as focal-neurological deficits persisted in the unvaccinated patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the availability of vaccination, TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) remains a global public health problem. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the long-term efficacy of vaccinations against tick-borne encephalitis using vaccines available on the European market. Methods: The analysis was conducted on the results of a systematic review conducted in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The search was performed in three databases, namely Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE (via Ovid), and the Cochrane Library database. The authors followed the PRISMA method and the selection of the articles was performed with two independent researchers. Results: From a total of 199 citations, 9 studies were included in this review. According to the primary studies identified in the search, the efficacy of available anti-TBE vaccines ranges from 90.1% to 98.9%; however, in individuals above the age of 60, the protection wanes as early as one year after vaccination. Administration of a booster dose 3 years after completion of the basic vaccination schedule significantly extended the period of protection against TBE. Conclusions: Anti-TBE vaccines available in Europe have a high level of efficacy. However, the level of protection against TBE is decreasing after vaccination. Therefore, in addition to the conventional schedule, booster vaccines should be administered every 5 years in individuals before the age of 60 and more frequently, e.g. every 3 years, in individuals aged 60 and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a tick-transmitted flavivirus, which can infect humans and animals, sometimes even with a fatal outcome. Since many decades, TBEV is endemic in southern Germany, while only sporadic occurrence has been noted in northern parts of the country so far. Nevertheless, autochthonous human clinical cases are increasing in the federal state of Lower Saxony in north-western Germany, and several natural foci of TBEV transmission have recently been detected in this federal state. In order to shed more light on the current distribution of TBEV in Lower Saxony, the present study examined blood samples from wild and domestic animals for antibodies against TBEV. Overall, samples from 4,085 animals were tested by ELISA, including wild boar (N = 1,208), roe deer (N = 149), red deer (N = 61), fallow deer (N = 18), red foxes (N = 9), nutria (N = 9), raccoon dogs (N = 3), raccoons (N = 3), badgers (N = 1), European pine martens (N = 1), horses (N = 574), sheep (N = 266), goats (N = 67), dogs (N = 1,317) and cats (N = 399). Samples with an ELISA result of ≥60 Vienna units (VIEU)/ml were subjected to confirmatory serum neutralization tests (SNT). In total, 343 of 4,085 (8.4%) animals tested positive for anti-TBEV-IgG by ELISA, of which 60 samples were confirmed by SNT. Samples of 89 animals showed a cytotoxic effect in the SNT and were excluded from seroprevalence calculation, resulting in an overall seroprevalence of 1.5% (60/3,996). Seroprevalence was higher among wild animals (wild boar: 2.9% [34/1,190], roe deer: 2.7% [4/149], red deer: 1.7% [1/60], fallow deer: 5.6% [1/18]) than among domestic animals (dogs: 1.1% [15/1,317], horses: 0.8% [4/505], sheep: 0.4% [1/266]). No anti-TBEV-antibodies were detected in the other wild animal species as well as goats and cats. A notable clustering of positive samples was observed in districts where TBEV transmission foci have been described. Further clusters in other districts suggest the existence of so far undetected transmission foci, underlining the fact that both wild and domestic animals are useful sentinels for monitoring the spread of TBEV.

In 2020, a record number of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases was reported in major endemic areas in Germany, i.e., the southern federal states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria. Most cases were unvaccinated. Other tick-borne diseases (TBDs), including Lyme borreliosis and tularemia, are rising, too. Thus, strategies are needed to increase TBE vaccination uptake in risk areas and promote education on TBD prevention. Primary care physicians are key providers of both vaccinations and TBD education. The TBD-Prevention (TBD-Prev) study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of primary care physicians in Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria with regard to TBE vaccination and prevention of TBDs and to derive strategies for increasing vaccination rates and improving knowledge about TBE and other TBDs in the population and among primary care physicians. We invited all primary care physicians (N = 14,046) in both states to participate by mail. Using standardized, self-administered questionnaires, available both on paper and online, we asked physicians anonymously about their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors with respect to TBE vaccination and TBD prevention and their need for further information/educational materials. A total of 2321 physicians participated between May and September 2022 (response rate 17%), of whom 1222 (53%) worked in Baden-Wuerttemberg and 1067 (46%) in Bavaria. Among the participating physicians, 56% were male, 71% were >50 years and 51% worked in an individual practice. Furthermore, 91% were aware of the German national vaccination guidelines, and 98% perceived their knowledge of the risks and benefits of vaccination as adequate. A total of 97% offer TBE vaccinations, 67% provide vaccination counselling during initial consultations with new patients and 64% actively remind patients about due vaccinations. In addition, 24% expressed a need for further information materials, mainly traditional, analogue media such as flyers (82%) and posters (50%), and named timeliness, quality assurance, easy comprehensibility and independence from the pharmaceutical industry as the most important characteristics of such materials. Almost all participating physicians reported offering TBE vaccinations and feeling well-informed about TBE vaccination and TBDs. However, active offering of vaccinations and education could be further improved, and additional, low-threshold information materials are needed. Based on these results, we will develop and provide various materials on TBE vaccination and TBDs, in particular flyers and posters, for use by physicians during consultations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most significant tick-borne disease in Europe and Asia, with more than 10,000 cases per year worldwide. A surge of reported TBE cases can be observed despite the availability of highly efficient vaccines. There is little known about the serological immune protection rate of the population in Germany. The seroprotection rate is defined as the presence of neutralizing antibodies. In contrast, the vaccination rate, as defined by public health agencies, may differ from the true protection rate in a population. Materials and Methods: 2220 blood samples from inhabitants of the county Ortenaukreis in the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg in Germany were included in the study. These were tested for anti-TBEV IgG antibodies by an anti-TBEV-IgG-ELISA. Subsequently, all TBEV-IgG positive samples were confirmed for neutralizing antibodies in the micro serum neutralization assay. Results: From the overall 2220 samples, 2104 were included in the comparison because of the selection of specific age groups (ages 20–69). In our sample size, we found an average serological protection rate (presence of neutralizing antibodies) of 57% (518/908) for the female blood donors and of 52% (632/1196) for the male blood donors. Discussion: In this study, we present new findings on a highly endemic region in southern Germany. Additionally, we present current data regarding the serological TBEV protection rates in the Ortenaukreis in southern Germany and compare these with a dataset published by the RKI, which is based on vaccination reports of the primary care providers and health care insurers, and with a self-reporting study conducted by a vaccine manufacturer. Our results significantly exceed the official numbers of average active vaccination status by 23.2% for females and by 21% for males. This might indicate an even longer persistence of TBE-vaccination-induced antibody titers than previously assumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed standardized mortality ratio in tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Sweden, 2004–2017. Standardized mortality ratio for TBE was 3.96 (95% CI 2.55–5.90); no cases in patients

Information on febrile illness caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) without central nervous system involvement is limited. We characterized 98 patients who had TBEV RNA in their blood but no central nervous system involvement at the time of evaluation. Median duration of illness was 7 days; 37 (38%) patients were hospitalized. The most frequent findings were malaise or fatigue (98%), fever (97%), headache (86%), and myalgias (54%); common laboratory findings were leukopenia (88%), thrombocytopenia (59%), and abnormal liver test results (63%). During the illness, blood leukocyte counts tended to improve, whereas thrombocytopenia and liver enzymes tended to deteriorate. At the time of positive PCR findings, 0/98 patients had serum IgG TBEV and 7 serum IgM TBEV; all patients later seroconverted. Viral RNA load was higher in patients with more severe illness but did not differ substantially in relation to several other factors. Illness progressed to tick-borne encephalitis in 84% of patients within 18 days after defervescence.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most important viral tick-borne infection in Europe and Asia. It is emerging in new areas. The mechanisms of emergence are fairly unknown or speculative. In the Ravensburg district in southern Germany, TBE emerged, mainly over the last five years. Here, we analyzed the underlying epidemiology in humans. The resulting identified natural foci of the causal TBE virus (TBEV) were genetically characterized. We sampled 13 potential infection sites at these foci and detected TBEV in ticks (Ixodes ricinus) at eight sites. Phylogenetic analysis spurred the introduction of at least four distinct TBEV lineages of the European subtype into the Ravensburg district over the last few years. In two instances, a continuous spread of these virus strains over up to 10 km was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of cytokines and other soluble mediators in differentiation between severe and mild course of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) as well as the predictor of sequalae development., Material and Methods: 122 patients (mean age 47.66 ± 14.77 years, 43 females, 79 males) with TBE were included in the study. Concentrations of 82 cytokines, growth factors, selectins, matrix metalloproteinases and other soluble mediators were measured in serum and CSF samples according to the manufacturer's instruction on a Bio-Plex 200 System using the custom made Luminex assays. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the quantitative detection of human IL-26, IL-29 IL-22, CXCL12 were performed., Results: No significant differences between serum concentrations of examined factors between group with sequelae and group with complete recovery were observed. In the CSF the concentrations of GM-CSF, Il-1α, Il-2, Il-4, Il-6, Il-12p70, Il-17A, CXCL1, CXCL6, Il-8, CCL4, CCL20, TRAIL, CD40L, MMP8 were significantly higher in patients who developed sequelae than in patients with complete recovery. For TRAIL concentration over 26.65 pg/ml in CSF the probability of sequalae development was 10.5 higher. In case of CCL20 - the concentration over 21.38 pg/ml in CSF the odds ratio was 6.429 times. For MMP-8 over 4210.54 pg/ml, the odds ratio was 11.222 times., Conclusions: TRAIL, CCL-20 and MMP-8 are promising biomarkers of prediction of the sequalae development of TBE. Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8, IL-1, IL-2, IL-12, IL-17A also associate well with the risk of sequelae and could be further evaluated as prognostic markers in TBE, individually or as elements of a larger model., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

We assessed standardized mortality ratio in tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Sweden, 2004-2017. Standardized mortality ratio for TBE was 3.96 (95% CI 2.55-5.90); no cases in patients <40 years of age were fatal. These results underscore the need for further vaccination efforts in populations at risk for TBE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, a record number of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases was reported in major endemic areas in Germany, i.e., the southern federal states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria. Most cases were unvaccinated. Other tick-borne diseases (TBDs), including Lyme borreliosis and tularemia, are rising, too. Thus, strategies are needed to increase TBE vaccination uptake in risk areas and promote education on TBD prevention. Primary care physicians are key providers of both vaccinations and TBD education. The TBD-Prevention (TBD-Prev) study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of primary care physicians in Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria with regard to TBE vaccination and prevention of TBDs and to derive strategies for increasing vaccination rates and improving knowledge about TBE and other TBDs in the population and among primary care physicians. We invited all primary care physicians (N = 14,046) in both states to participate by mail. Using standardized, self-administered questionnaires, available both on paper and online, we asked physicians anonymously about their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors with respect to TBE vaccination and TBD prevention and their need for further information/educational materials. A total of 2321 physicians participated between May and September 2022 (response rate 17%), of whom 1222 (53%) worked in Baden-Wuerttemberg and 1067 (46%) in Bavaria. Among the participating physicians, 56% were male, 71% were >50 years and 51% worked in an individual practice. Furthermore, 91% were aware of the German national vaccination guidelines, and 98% perceived their knowledge of the risks and benefits of vaccination as adequate. A total of 97% offer TBE vaccinations, 67% provide vaccination counselling during initial consultations with new patients and 64% actively remind patients about due vaccinations. In addition, 24% expressed a need for further information materials, mainly traditional, analogue media such as flyers (82%) and posters (50%), and named timeliness, quality assurance, easy comprehensibility and independence from the pharmaceutical industry as the most important characteristics of such materials. Almost all participating physicians reported offering TBE vaccinations and feeling well-informed about TBE vaccination and TBDs. However, active offering of vaccinations and education could be further improved, and additional, low-threshold information materials are needed. Based on these results, we will develop and provide various materials on TBE vaccination and TBDs, in particular flyers and posters, for use by physicians during consultations.

The condition of any system deteriorates overtime due to usage, environmental effect and aging. Preventive maintenance is often conducted to restore the system's condition and to prevent failures. Preventive maintenance activities are usually imperfect, meaning that the system failure rate increases with the increase in the number of repairs being carried out. Monitoring the time between failures can help in deciding whether further maintenance is beneficial or is no longer effective. In this paper, we introduce a Time Between Events chart for monitoring the failure events of imperfect maintained Weibull distributed system. We study the performance of the chart various performance measures. We provide an illustrative example using a dataset from the literature and an extensive case study from a painting shop, where a robotic system is operated. Further, we introduce a reliability scheme for monitoring the process where the application of the developed chart is elaborated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an emerging vector-borne disease in Europe caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), which belongs to Flaviviridae. Although most of the patients quickly recover from TBE, some require further neurological and psychiatric treatment due to persistent symptoms. The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of an antibodies index for predicting the course of the disease and potential persistent sequalae. Sixty-six patients (49 males and 17 females, mean age 45.97 ± 13.69 years) with TBE hospitalized in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland, in years 2016–2019 were included to the study. TBE antibodies titer in serum and CSF samples were measured with an Anti-TBEV ELISA (IgM, IgG) EUROIMMUN test. Patients who developed persistent sequelae after TBE had significantly lower IgG intrathecal index at admission. Additionally, IgG2/IgG1was significantly higher in patients who developed sequelae. IgG intrathecal index might be a useful tool for the prediction of TBE sequelae development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 2020 was the year with the most cases of early tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Germany. The number of cases fluctuates annually, mainly depending on the weather. Because it is a poten tially serious and sometimes fatal disease, individuals exposed to ticks should be informed about the possibility of disease prevention through active vaccination. Search Methods: Pragmatic search (no language limit) in divers data banks. Main messages: The risk of disease after tick bite cannot be reliably calculated due to the high variability of tick infection rates with TBE virus and the lack of prospective studies on clinical manifestation rates. In individual cases, a single tick bite is sufficient to cause severe illness and to impair the quality of life in the long term or permanently. Causal treatment options are not available. Conclusions: Vaccination against TBE is generally well tolerated and offers a high level of protection against the corresponding disease. The indication for immunization is based on the risk of tick exposure, and the benefit is individual only for the vaccinated persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TBE vaccination failures among those aged 50+ suggest declining immune response. • We studied the immunogenicity of the TBE vaccine FSME-Immun in various age groups. • Immune response to FSME-Immun declined with age. • We compared the immunogenicity of a three- and two different four-dose regimens. • For those aged 50+, the accelerated 0–7–21–360 regimen appeared most immunogenic. TBE vaccination failures among those past middle age have raised concern about immune response declining with age. We investigated immunogenicity of the TBE-vaccine FSME-Immun among those aged 50+ years using the standard three-dose primary series and alternative four-dose schedules. In this single-centre, open-label, randomized controlled trial, 200 TBE-naive Swedish adults were given primary TBE vaccination with FSME-Immun. Those aged 50+ years (n = 150) were randomized to receive the standard three-dose (days 0–30–360) or one of two four-dose series (0–7–21–360; 0–30–90–360). For participants < 50 years (n = 50) the standard three-dose schedule was used. Titres of neutralizing antibodies were determined on days 0, 60, 120, 360, and 400. The main outcome was the log titre of TBE virus-specific neutralizing antibodies on day 400. The three-dose schedule yielded lower antibody titres among those aged 50+ years than the younger participants on day 400 (geometric mean titre 41 versus 74, p < 0.05). The older group showed higher titres for the four-dose 0–7–21–360 than the standard three-dose schedule both on day 400 (103 versus 41, p < 0.01; primary end point) and at the other testing points (days 60, 120, 360). Using the other four-dose schedule (0–30–90–360), no such difference was observed on day 400 (63 versus 41, NS). Immune response to the TBE vaccine declined with age. A four-dose schedule (0–7–21–360) may benefit those aged 50 years or older. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01361776. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on febrile illness caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) without central nervous system involvement is limited. We characterized 98 patients who had TBEV RNA in their blood but no central nervous system involvement at the time of evaluation. Median duration of illness was 7 days; 37 (38%) patients were hospitalized. The most frequent findings were malaise or fatigue (98%), fever (97%), headache (86%), and myalgias (54%); common laboratory findings were leukopenia (88%), thrombocytopenia (59%), and abnormal liver test results (63%). During the illness, blood leukocyte counts tended to improve, whereas thrombocytopenia and liver enzymes tended to deteriorate. At the time of positive PCR findings, 0/98 patients had serum IgG TBEV and 7 serum IgM TBEV; all patients later seroconverted. Viral RNA load was higher in patients with more severe illness but did not differ substantially in relation to several other factors. Illness progressed to tick-borne encephalitis in 84% of patients within 18 days after defervescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High VEs > 90% were observed in both countries irrespective of age and/or timing. • High VE after only two primary doses suggested sufficient seasonal protection. • Vaccination is high even after the first two doses. • Consistently high VEs support flexible schedules with longer booster intervals. Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a vaccine-preventable disease which may cause long-term sequelae and even death. The data on the long-term effectiveness of TBE vaccines are limited. Additionally, the vaccination schedule is complex which in part contributes towards sub-optimal uptake in TBE-endemic areas. The current ecological study measures vaccine effectiveness (VE) in two European countries. TBE VE was measured from 2007 to 2018 in Latvia and Southern German states by age group, vaccination history, and schedule compliance. TBE cases and vaccination history were obtained from the public health agencies for Latvia and the southern German federal states of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg. Cases were "within schedule" if a TBE infection was diagnosed within the time interval preceding the next scheduled dose and "outside schedule" if the diagnosis occurred after the next scheduled dose. Vaccine uptake was estimated via representative nationwide surveys. VE after 2, 3, and ≥4 doses was high in both countries at 97.2%, 95.0%, and 95.4% for southern Germany, and 98.1%, 99.4%, and 98.8% for Latvia while within- schedule, and only showed marginal differences outside schedule at 90.6%, 89.9%, and 95.6% for southern Germany, and 97.4%, 98.4%, and 99.0% for Latvia regardless of age groups. In both countries, VE after two and three primary doses within-schedule was very high in all age groups. Once receiving booster doses, high VE continued to be observed even in persons with extended intervals since the last dose received, suggesting that longer and more flexible booster intervals may be considered for sustainable long-term protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most significant tick-borne disease in Europe and Asia, with more than 10,000 cases per year worldwide. A surge of reported TBE cases can be observed despite the availability of highly efficient vaccines. There is little known about the serological immune protection rate of the population in Germany. The seroprotection rate is defined as the presence of neutralizing antibodies. In contrast, the vaccination rate, as defined by public health agencies, may differ from the true protection rate in a population. Materials and Methods: 2220 blood samples from inhabitants of the county Ortenaukreis in the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg in Germany were included in the study. These were tested for anti-TBEV IgG antibodies by an anti-TBEV-IgG-ELISA. Subsequently, all TBEV-IgG positive samples were confirmed for neutralizing antibodies in the micro serum neutralization assay. Results: From the overall 2220 samples, 2104 were included in the comparison because of the selection of specific age groups (ages 20–69). In our sample size, we found an average serological protection rate (presence of neutralizing antibodies) of 57% (518/908) for the female blood donors and of 52% (632/1196) for the male blood donors. Discussion: In this study, we present new findings on a highly endemic region in southern Germany. Additionally, we present current data regarding the serological TBEV protection rates in the Ortenaukreis in southern Germany and compare these with a dataset published by the RKI, which is based on vaccination reports of the primary care providers and health care insurers, and with a self-reporting study conducted by a vaccine manufacturer. Our results significantly exceed the official numbers of average active vaccination status by 23.2% for females and by 21% for males. This might indicate an even longer persistence of TBE-vaccination-induced antibody titers than previously assumed.

Objectives: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) are tick-borne pathogens. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of these pathogens in Danish blood donors., Methods: A total of 1000 plasma samples equally distributed (n = 200) from all five Danish regions were analyzed. Commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to screen the samples for immunoglobulin G antibodies against Bbsl and TBEV. The samples positive for antibodies against TBEV were further examined with a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a Luminex-based TBEV suspension multiplex immunoassay for specific antibodies against non-structural protein 1 (NS1) antigen suggestive of previous infection., Results: A total of 62 samples tested positive for immunoglobulin G antibodies against Bbsl. A total of 40 samples were positive or borderline for antibodies against TBEV, indicating potential infection or vaccination. Of these, one had antibodies against NS1, indicating past infection. The seroprevalence of Bbsl was 6.2% (95% confidence interval 4.8-7.8), with equal seroprevalence in all five regions. The seroprevalence of TBEV was 0.1% (95% confidence interval 0.01-0.62%)., Conclusions: The seroprevalence of Bbsl was similar throughout the country and corresponds well with previous studies. The seroprevalence of TBEV NS1 was low, which is in line with a low number of reported tick-borne encephalitis cases in Denmark. The NS1 positive sample was from the Capital Region, an endemic TBEV area., Competing Interests: None of the authors declare they have any financial conflicts of interests. Outside the present work, AML discloses speaker honoraria and advisory board activities from Gilead, ViiV/GSK, and Pfizer and a grant from The Lundbeck Foundation (R366-2021-127). The funding bodies had no role in writing the manuscript., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one of the most important infectious diseases of the central nervous system in dogs from endemic areas. While in humans survival rate and long-term outcomes are well described, these data are lacking in veterinary literature. The aim of the present paper is to characterize the clinical aspects of TBE and to investigate fatality rate, long-term outcome and the long-term neurological sequelae in a population of dogs infected with TBE. We performed a retrospective analysis of 54 dogs diagnosed with TBE at the veterinary hospital of the University of Zurich between 1999 and 2016. Medical data such as signalment, clinical presentation, results of diagnostic procedures, treatment and outcome were collected and analyzed. Statistical analysis including a cox proportional hazard model using a backward stepwise regression approach was performed. In 62% of the TBE cases unspecific signs were described before the onset of neurological signs, resembling a biphasic appearance that is well known in human TBE. Case fatality rate was 33% and all dogs died within the first 4 months after diagnosis. Long-term neurological sequalae were detected in 17% of the TBE cases. For each day of clinical signs before hospital entry the odds of sequalae increased by a factor of 1.88 (CI 1.04–3.15). Older dogs and dogs presented with seizure activity had an increased hazard risk of death (Hazard ration = 1.2, p = 0.03; and 9.38, p = 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, despite TBE being a life-threatening disease with severe clinical signs, the survival rate in our study was 67%. However, long-term sequalae can be of concern especially in dogs with longer clinical course.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most important viral tick-borne infection in Europe and Asia. It is emerging in new areas. The mechanisms of emergence are fairly unknown or speculative. In the Ravensburg district in southern Germany, TBE emerged, mainly over the last five years. Here, we analyzed the underlying epidemiology in humans. The resulting identified natural foci of the causal TBE virus (TBEV) were genetically characterized. We sampled 13 potential infection sites at these foci and detected TBEV in ticks (Ixodes ricinus) at eight sites. Phylogenetic analysis spurred the introduction of at least four distinct TBEV lineages of the European subtype into the Ravensburg district over the last few years. In two instances, a continuous spread of these virus strains over up to 10 km was observed.

The Internet is an important gateway for accessing health-related information, and data generated through web queries have been increasingly used as a complementary source for monitoring and forecasting of infectious diseases and they may partially address the issue of underreporting. In this study, we assessed whether tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)-related Internet search volume may be useful as a complementary tool for TBE surveillance in Italy. Monthly Google Trends (GT) data for TBE-related information were extracted for the period between January 2017 and September 2022, corresponding to the available time series of TBE notifications in Italy. Time series modeling was performed by applying seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) models with or without GT data. The search terms relative to tick bites reflected best the observed temporal distribution of TBE cases, showing a correlation coefficient of 0.81 (95 % CI: 0.71–0.88). Particularly, both the reported number of TBE cases and GT searches occurred mainly during the summer. The peak of disease notifications coincided with that of Google searches in 4 of 6 years. Once calibrated, SARIMA models with or without GT data were applied to a validation set. Retrospective forecast made by the model with GT data was associated with a lower prediction error and accurately predicted the peak timing. By contrast, the traditional SARIMA model underestimated the actual number of TBE notifications by 65 %. Timeliness, easy availability, low cost and transparency make monitoring of the TBE-related Internet search queries a promising addition to the traditional methods of TBE surveillance in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an emerging vector-borne disease in Europe caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), which belongs to Flaviviridae. Although most of the patients quickly recover from TBE, some require further neurological and psychiatric treatment due to persistent symptoms. The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of an antibodies index for predicting the course of the disease and potential persistent sequalae. Sixty-six patients (49 males and 17 females, mean age 45.97 ± 13.69 years) with TBE hospitalized in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland, in years 2016–2019 were included to the study. TBE antibodies titer in serum and CSF samples were measured with an Anti-TBEV ELISA (IgM, IgG) EUROIMMUN test. Patients who developed persistent sequelae after TBE had significantly lower IgG intrathecal index at admission. Additionally, IgG2/IgG1was significantly higher in patients who developed sequelae. IgG intrathecal index might be a useful tool for the prediction of TBE sequelae development.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is endemic in several European countries, and its incidence has recently increased. Various factors may explain this phenomenon: social factors (changes in human behavior, duration and type of leisure activities and increased tourism in European high-risk areas), ecological factors (e.g., effects of climate change on the tick population and reservoir animals), and technological factors (improved diagnostics, increased medical awareness). Furthermore, the real burden of TBE is not completely known, as the performance of surveillance systems is suboptimal and cases of disease are under-reported in several areas. Given the potentially severe clinical course of the disease, the absence of any antiviral therapy, and the impossibility of interrupting the transmission of the virus in nature, vaccination is the mainstay of prevention and control. TBE vaccines are effective (protective effect of approximately 95% after completion of the basic vaccination—three doses) and well tolerated. However, their uptake in endemic areas is suboptimal. In the main endemic countries where vaccination is included in the national/regional immunization program (with reimbursed vaccination programs), this decision was driven by a cost-effectiveness assessment (CEA), which is a helpful tool in the decision-making process. All CEA studies conducted have demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of TBE vaccination. Unfortunately, CEA is still lacking in many endemic countries, including Italy. In the future, it will be necessary to fill this gap in order to introduce an effective vaccination strategy in endemic areas. Finally, raising awareness of TBE, its consequences and the benefit of vaccination is critical in order to increase vaccination coverage and reduce the burden of the disease.

Tick-borne encephalitis was limited to northeast portions of Italy. We report in Lombardy, a populous region in the northwest, a chamois displaying clinical signs of tickborne encephalitis virus that had multiple virus-positive ticks attached, as well as a symptomatic man. Further, we show serologic evidence of viral circulation in the area.

• 4085 animals from northern germany were tested for anti-TBEV antibodies. • Total seroprevalence was 1.5%, and was higher in wild than in domestic animals. • Clustering of positive samples in districts with TBEV transmission foci was noted. • Further clusters in other districts suggest so far undetected transmission foci. Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a tick-transmitted flavivirus, which can infect humans and animals, sometimes even with a fatal outcome. Since many decades, TBEV is endemic in southern Germany, while only sporadic occurrence has been noted in northern parts of the country so far. Nevertheless, autochthonous human clinical cases are increasing in the federal state of Lower Saxony in north-western Germany, and several natural foci of TBEV transmission have recently been detected in this federal state. In order to shed more light on the current distribution of TBEV in Lower Saxony, the present study examined blood samples from wild and domestic animals for antibodies against TBEV. Overall, samples from 4,085 animals were tested by ELISA, including wild boar (N = 1,208), roe deer (N = 149), red deer (N = 61), fallow deer (N = 18), red foxes (N = 9), nutria (N = 9), raccoon dogs (N = 3), raccoons (N = 3), badgers (N = 1), European pine martens (N = 1), horses (N = 574), sheep (N = 266), goats (N = 67), dogs (N = 1,317) and cats (N = 399). Samples with an ELISA result of ≥60 Vienna units (VIEU)/ml were subjected to confirmatory serum neutralization tests (SNT). In total, 343 of 4,085 (8.4%) animals tested positive for anti-TBEV-IgG by ELISA, of which 60 samples were confirmed by SNT. Samples of 89 animals showed a cytotoxic effect in the SNT and were excluded from seroprevalence calculation, resulting in an overall seroprevalence of 1.5% (60/3,996). Seroprevalence was higher among wild animals (wild boar: 2.9% [34/1,190], roe deer: 2.7% [4/149], red deer: 1.7% [1/60], fallow deer: 5.6% [1/18]) than among domestic animals (dogs: 1.1% [15/1,317], horses: 0.8% [4/505], sheep: 0.4% [1/266]). No anti-TBEV-antibodies were detected in the other wild animal species as well as goats and cats. A notable clustering of positive samples was observed in districts where TBEV transmission foci have been described. Further clusters in other districts suggest the existence of so far undetected transmission foci, underlining the fact that both wild and domestic animals are useful sentinels for monitoring the spread of TBEV. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]