Abstract:
(1) Background: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most important tick-borne viral disease in Eurasia, although effective vaccines are available. Caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV, syn. Orthoflavivirus encephalitidis), in Europe, it is transmitted by ticks like Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus. TBEV circulates in natural foci, making it endemic to specific regions, such as southern Germany and northeastern Poland. Our study aimed to identify new TBEV natural foci and genetically characterize strains in ticks in previously nonendemic areas in Eastern Germany and Western Poland. (2) Methods: Ticks were collected from vegetation in areas reported by TBE patients. After identification, ticks were tested for TBEV in pools of a maximum of 10 specimens using real-time RT-PCR. From the positive TBEV samples, E genes were sequenced. (3) Results: Among 8400 ticks from 19 sites, I. ricinus (n = 4784; 56.9%) was predominant, followed by D. reticulatus (n = 3506; 41.7%), Haemaphysalis concinna (n = 108; 1.3%), and I. frontalis (n = 2; <0.1%). TBEV was detected in 19 pools originating in six sites. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that TBEV strains from Germany and Poland clustered with other German strains, as well as those from Finland and Estonia. (4) Conclusions: Although there are still only a few cases are reported from these areas, people spending much time outdoors should consider TBE vaccination.
摘要:
(1)研究背景:蜱传脑炎(TBE)是欧亚大陆最重要的蜱传病毒性疾病,尽管有有效的疫苗。由蜱传脑炎病毒(TBEV,syn.正黄病毒脑炎),在欧洲,它是通过诸如蓖麻和网状皮肤之类的蜱传播的。TBEV在自然病灶中循环,使其在特定地区特有,例如德国南部和波兰东北部。我们的研究旨在在德国东部和波兰西部以前的非流行地区鉴定出新的TBEV天然疫源地并对蜱中的菌株进行遗传表征。(2)方法:从TBE患者报告的地区的植被中收集蜱。识别后,使用实时RT-PCR在最多10个样本的池中测试蜱的TBEV。从TBEV阳性样本中,对E基因进行测序。(3)结果:在19个地点的8400个蜱中,I.蓖麻(n=4784;56.9%)占主导地位,其次是网状D.(n=3506;41.7%),混血丝(n=108;1.3%),和I.frontalis(n=2;<0.1%)。在源自六个地点的19个池中检测到TBEV。系统发育分析表明,来自德国和波兰的TBEV菌株与其他德国菌株聚集在一起,以及来自芬兰和爱沙尼亚的人。(4)结论:尽管这些地区仍然只有少数病例报告,人们花很多时间在户外应该考虑TBE疫苗接种。