Studies on Tick-Borne Encephalitis And Other Arthropod-Borne Virus Diseases

For the first time, a focus of tick-borne encephalitis TBE virus has been detected in Switzerland. Attempts to eradicate the virus from Austrain foci with insecticides and rodenticides suggest that rodent control may offer the most promising way of breaking the virus cycle, although supplementary tick control may prove useful. In 1972, 389 cases of TBE were diagnosed in Austria. A new formalin inactivated vaccine provoked antibodies in human volunteers receiving two doses. Of the four synthetic receptor substance analogs synthesised, two showed hemagglutination-inhibiting activity. Attempts to increase hemmaglutinating activity of arboviruses met with limited success. Tilorone and other interferon-inducing derivatives were active against TBE in mice. In a survey of 1162 avian sera collected in the Neusiedlersee area antibodies against Uukuniemi, Calovo, TBE, West Nile and Semliki viruses were detected.