CLIA TBE Virus

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infectious disease caused by an arbovirus from the family Flaviviridae. The infection is characterized by a natural focal distribution. Reservoir hosts of the virus are forest animals, humans are infected through tick bites. Most TBE cases occur from summer to autumn. Up to 70 % of TBE infections are clinically inapparent. If manifested, non-specific flu-like symptoms occur after an incubation period (3-14 days). After several days of remission, the second (neurologic) phase of the disease develops. An acute stage of tick-borne encephalitis lasts 1 to 3 weeks. More severe cases, often with lasting ill effects, can be observed in senior patients.

The diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis is based on medical history, clinical presentation and results of laboratory tests, which include biochemical and cytological investigation of liquor and serological detection of specific IgM and IgG antibodies in serum. The IgM antibodies are the serological marker of acute infection and their production can last up to 10 months. The IgG antibodies protect the organism against a new infection, and they can be detected over several years after the past infection or vaccination. IgG avidity determination improves the detection of the current phase of the infection. Inconclusive results should be verified by virus neutralization test (VNT).