Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) (Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) is an arthropod-borne virus, an etiologic agent of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), a human infection involving the central nervous system. The disease is endemic in a large region in Eurasia, where it is transmitted mainly by Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks. It is known that also Dermacentor reticulatus is involved in circulation of TBEV. However, the current knowledge of D. reticulatus importance in TBE epidemiology is still insufficient. A total of 471 adult D. reticulatus ticks were collected by flagging vegetation in the Białowieża Primeval Forest, Biebrza National Park, Masurian Landscape Park (North-Eastern Poland) and in the city of Warsaw in the years 2007–2010. All collected ticks were examined individually for the presence of RNA of TBEV using nested RT-PCR assay. Positive results were noted in all investigated localities with the infection rate ranging from 0.99 to 12.5 % with a total mean of 2.12 %. The difference in the percentage of infective males and females was not statistically significant.
Highlights
Tick borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral zoonosis caused by tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus (TBEV) belonging to the tick-borne flavivirus group, family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus
The objective of this study was a determination of the infection level with Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) of D. reticulatus ticks collected from vegetation in north-eastern Poland, the endemic area of TBE and urban environment of the capital city of Warsaw (SC Poland)
In the current study, the level of TBEV infection was higher in D. reticulatus than so far noted in I. ricinus
Summary
Tick borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral zoonosis caused by TBE virus (TBEV) belonging to the tick-borne flavivirus group, family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus. The range of TBEV distribution has been growing, especially in north-western Europe. This phenomenon is associated with global warming leading to increased activity of ticks (Grey 2008; Qviller et al 2014). Its area of occurrence is divided into two regions—the Western European region, ranging from France to the eastern part of Germany, and the Eastern European region, ranging from eastern Poland, through Belarus and European part of Russia to Siberia (Karbowiak and Kiewra 2010; Siuda 1995) The expansion of this species is observed in north-western Europe. The objective of this study was a determination of the infection level with TBEV of D. reticulatus ticks collected from vegetation in north-eastern Poland, the endemic area of TBE and urban environment of the capital city of Warsaw (SC Poland)
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