Introduction. Tick-borne meningoencephalitis virus is a flavivirus that
causes the most important vector-borne central nervous system infection in
many countries of Europe and Asia. There are three subtypes of tick-borne
encephalitis virus: European, Siberian and the Far-Eastern subtype.
Transmission. In endemic areas, the virus remains in transmissive cycles
between Ixodes ticks and small rodents. Clinical picture. In most cases
(70?98%) infection goes asymptomatically. In about one-third of meningitis
cases, meningoencephalitis or meningomyelitis is developed. Postencephalytic
syndrome may be the complication of the infection, presenting with
neurological symptoms. Diagnosis. Etiologic diagnosis of tick-borne
meningoencephalitis is only made on basis of laboratory analyses. Reverse
transcription-polymerase chain reaction is used for determining the presence
of virus in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Antibodies in blood and
cerebrospinal fluid can be detected by serological tests. Prevention. The
most efficient way to control this potentially severe disease with possible
serious long-term consequences is vaccination. It should be recommended to
persons who live or travel to endemic areas. Conclusion. In Serbia,
tick-borne encephalitis virus infection belongs to the list of reportable
diseases; however, there are no reported cases because the diagnostics is not
performed routinely. We believe that the significance of this zoonosis must
be examined in our country and some of its parts because of preliminary
positive serological findings found out in Vojvodina as well as because of
reported cases in neighboring countries such as Hungary and Croatia and its
worldwide distribution.
Microbiological outcomes associated with low leukocyte counts in cerebrospinal fluid
