Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Dominic Adam Worku
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral disease prevalent in large parts of Europe and Asia, characterized by neurological symptoms that can range from mild to severe, and it often leads to long-term morbidity. The pathogenesis of TBE is not fully understood, but factors such as ticks, viral strains, host immune response, and age may contribute to the disease phenotype. The incidence of TBE is increasing and its epidemiology is changing due to global warming.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Renata Varnaite, Sara Gredmark-Russ, Jonas Klingstrom
Summary: We assessed the standardized mortality ratio of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Sweden from 2004 to 2017. The standardized mortality ratio for TBE was 3.96 (95% CI 2.55-5.90), and no fatalities were observed in patients under 40 years of age. These findings highlight the importance of further vaccination efforts in populations at risk for TBE.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ludek Eyer, Katherine Seley-Radtke, Daniel Ruzek
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a potentially fatal disease common in much of Europe and Asia. Currently, there is no specific therapy for TBE patients, but there are ongoing efforts to develop small molecules and monoclonal antibodies that can interfere with the TBE virus life cycle and potentially be used for post-exposure prophylaxis or early therapy. This review summarizes the latest directions and experimental approaches for combating TBE in humans.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Ewa Bojkiewicz, Kacper Toczylowski, Sambor Grygorczuk, Beata Zelazowska-Rutkowska, Justyna Dunaj, Agnieszka Zebrowska, Piotr Czupryna, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska, Artur Sulik
Summary: In Poland, the vaccination rate for tick-borne encephalitis is low, despite a high incidence of severe infections. A study found that many people have asymptomatic infections and have different attitudes towards the vaccine.
Review
Immunology
Monika Groth, Elzbieta Skrzydlewska, Marta Dobrzynska, Slawomir Pancewicz, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska
Summary: Vector-borne diseases, including tick-borne diseases, are a growing global health problem. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic effects play key roles in the pathogenesis of these diseases, impacting the structure and function of phospholipids and proteins. Finding diagnostic biomarkers related to redox imbalance and phospholipid metabolites can help in monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Virology
E. Taylor Stone, Amelia K. Pinto
Summary: The Flaviviridae family consists of diverse arthropod-borne viruses that cause globally relevant diseases in humans. Infection with certain flaviviruses, like West Nile virus, Zika virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, and Powassan virus, can lead to neuroinvasive diseases such as meningitis or encephalitis. T cells have been identified as a contributor to neuroinflammation, but their role in tick-borne flavivirus encephalitis requires further study. Understanding the involvement of T cells in tick-borne flavivirus encephalitis is crucial for improving vaccine safety and efficacy, as well as developing treatments for human disease.
Article
Immunology
Jiri Salat, Milan Hunady, Pavel Svoboda, Lucie Strelcova, Petra Strakova, Andrea Fortova, Martin Palus, Daniel Ruzek
Summary: A vaccine candidate for tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in dogs was developed, which showed good safety, immunogenicity and efficacy in both mice and dogs. The vaccine induced the production of specific anti-TBEV antibodies with virus neutralising activity, providing protection against fatal TBE in mice and preventing viremia after challenge infection in dogs.
Article
Immunology
Masayuki Ohira, Kentaro Yoshii, Yasuhiro Aso, Hideto Nakajima, Toru Yamashita, Ikuko Takahashi-Iwata, Norihisa Maeda, Katsuro Shindo, Toshihiko Suenaga, Tohru Matsuura, Kazuma Sugie, Tadanori Hamano, Akira Arai, Rikiya Furutani, Yasuhiro Suzuki, Chikako Kaneko, Yasuhiro Kobayashi, Eduardo Campos-Alberto, Lisa R. Harper, Juanita Edwards, Cody Bender, Andreas Pilz, Shuhei Ito, Frederick J. Angulo, Wilhelm Erber, Harish Madhava, Jennifer Moisi, Luis Jodar, Hidehiro Mizusawa, Masaki Takao
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases have been identified in Japan, including outside of Hokkaido, suggesting that TBEV infection may be undiagnosed in the country. This study retrospectively tested serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from hospitalized patients and confirmed three TBE cases. Limited clinical awareness and lack of TBE diagnostic tests contribute to the underdiagnosis of TBE in Japan.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Virology
Xiaohui Li, Hongwei Ji, Di Wang, Lihe Che, Li Zhang, Liang Li, Qing Yin, Quan Liu, Feng Wei, Zedong Wang
Summary: This study identified the presence of Far Eastern subtype of TBEV in Ixodes persulcatus ticks in northeastern China, with genetic variations observed among viruses from different natural foci in the region.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Mulugeta A. Wondim, Piotr Czupryna, Slawomir Pancewicz, Ewelina Kruszewska, Monika Groth, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis is a neuroinfection widely distributed in the Euro-Asia region, primarily transmitted by infected ticks. The total number of confirmed cases reported in Europe from 2000 to 2019 was 51,519, with a decrease in cases in 2014 and 2015 but an increasing trend since 2015.
Article
Microbiology
Nicole Barp, Cinzia Cappi, Marianna Meschiari, Marzia Battistel, Maria Vittoria Libbra, Maria Alice Ferri, Stefano Ballestri, Altea Gallerani, Filippo Ferrari, Marisa Meacci, Mario Sarti, Mariano Capitelli, Cristina Mussini, Erica Franceschini
Summary: The first human case of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection in central Italy has been reported, indicating endemic transmission and a possible hot spot in the Serramazzoni region of the Emilian Apennines.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Dace Zavadska, Zane Freimane, Guntis Karelis, Ineta Ermina, Lisa R. Harper, Cody Bender, Pingping Zhang, Frederick J. Angulo, Wilhelm Erber, Antra Bormane, Evija Gutmane, Zane A. Litauniece, Jevgenijs Tihonovs, Aija Griskevica, Harish Madhava, Luis Jodar
Summary: This study examined the effectiveness of Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccines in Latvia. The findings showed that TBE vaccines were highly effective in preventing TBE cases, hospitalizations, moderate/severe disease, and prolonged hospitalization. Vaccine uptake and compliance should be increased in Latvia and other endemic regions.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guo-Ping Zhao, Yi-Xing Wang, Zheng-Wei Fan, Yang Ji, Ming-jin Liu, Wen-Hui Zhang, Xin-Lou Li, Shi-Xia Zhou, Hao Li, Song Liang, Wei Liu, Yang Yang, Li-Qun Fang
Summary: Understanding the ecological niches of major tick species and prevalent tick-borne pathogens is crucial for efficient surveillance and control of tick-borne diseases. The study in China reveals that Haemaphysalis longicornis harbors the highest variety of tick-borne agents among various tick species.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Zbigniew Zajac, Katarzyna Bartosik, Joanna Kulisz, Aneta Wozniak
Summary: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is increasing in many European countries.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Entomology
Lucy Gilbert
Summary: Ticks are widespread and carry pathogens, impacting by climate change; tick-borne disease systems are complex with diverse drivers, modeling can help understand changes; future research should focus on assessing the resilience of ticks and tick-borne pathogens to climate change.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY, VOL 66, 2021
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Harold Salant, Yaarit Nachum-Biala, Doni Zivotofsky, Tsachi Even Tzur, Gad Baneth
Summary: This study describes the presentation, clinical signs, parasitemia levels, laboratory findings and treatment of dogs infected with B. negevi. Treatment with imidocarb dipropionate was helpful for recovery from clinical disease but did not facilitate parasite elimination, and it is therefore recommended to treat canine B. negevi infection with the combination of atovaquone and azithromycin.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Gervillien Arnold Malonga, Almoustapha Issiaka Maiga, Dimitry Moudiongui Mboungou Malanda, Mahamadou Saliou, Juth ece Private Malanda-Kiminou, Oumar Dolo, Anicet Luc Magloire Boumba, Alhassane Ba, Robert Murphy, Jean Felix Peko, Anne-Genevieve Marcelin, Vincent Calvez, Stephane Marot
Summary: A serological survey in sub-urban areas of the capital cities of Congo and Mali reveals human contact with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) associated with previously described CCHFV risk factors.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Aleksander Wymazal, Sabina Nowak, Robert W. Myslajek, Anna Bajer, Renata Welc-Faleciak, Maciej Szewczyk, Iga Kwiatkowska, Kinga M. Stepniak, Michal Figura, Agnieszka Kloch
Summary: The wolf population in Central and Eastern Europe has been increasing, but their frequent contacts with humans make them a potential zoonotic reservoir. This study found a high prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in free-ranging wolves from Poland.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nannet D. Fabri, Hans Heesterbeek, Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt, Frauke Ecke, Hein Sprong, Lonneke Nijhuis, Tim R. Hofmeester, Nienke Hartemink
Summary: In many parts of the northern hemisphere, different species of deer, small mammals, and birds coexist and their composition can strongly influence the outbreak potential of tick-borne pathogens. This study investigates how the abundance and composition of vertebrate communities affect the basic reproduction number R0 of tick-borne pathogens, and shows that species composition plays a substantial role in the outbreak potential of tick-borne diseases.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lynn M. Osikowicz, Maria R. Rizzo, Andrias Hojgaard, Sarah E. Maes, Rebecca J. Eisen
Summary: This article describes the prevalence and diversity of Lyme disease in the United States. By using different detection methods, the authors found various species of spirochetes present in specific tick species, revealing the potential transmission of pathogens among ticks.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Review
Infectious Diseases
El-Sayed El-Alfy, Ibrahim Abbas, Somaya Saleh, Rana Elseadawy, Ragab M. Fereig, Mohamed Abdo Rizk, Xuenan Xuan
Summary: Published data on tick-borne pathogens in camels worldwide have been collected, providing an overview of their global prevalence and species diversity. Evidence of natural infection of camels with certain tick-borne pathogens is limited, particularly because most of the camels were considered healthy at the time of sampling. More research is needed to understand the role of camels in maintaining and transmitting these pathogens.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Saana Sipari, Mikko Kiljunen, Minna Nylund, Eva R. Kallio
Summary: This study introduces a stable isotope analysis method to directly identify tick breeding hosts by sampling field collected larvae. The results show that stable isotope signatures can reflect the diet of the breeding host of the mother tick.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)