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Surveillance of tick-borne encephalitis in emerging risk areas in southern Sweden : a retrospective case finding study

Waldeck, Mattias ; Winqvist, Niclas LU ; Henriksson, Gunnel LU ; Dyrdak, Robert ; Settergren, Bo and Lindgren, Per Eric (2023) In European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 42(1). p.13-22
Abstract

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an emerging infection causing CNS infection of various severity. Good knowledge of the incidence in the population and defined risk areas is important in risk communication and vaccination recommendations. The aim of this study was to investigate potential underreporting by retrospectively diagnose TBE among patients with viral CNS infections of unknown etiology in a region with emerging risk areas for TBE, and define variables associated with performed TBE serology at the time of infection. Epidemiological data and microbiological diagnostics of cases with viral CNS infection of unknown etiology treated at departments of infectious diseases and pediatrics in Skåne County during 2000–2012 were... (More)

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an emerging infection causing CNS infection of various severity. Good knowledge of the incidence in the population and defined risk areas is important in risk communication and vaccination recommendations. The aim of this study was to investigate potential underreporting by retrospectively diagnose TBE among patients with viral CNS infections of unknown etiology in a region with emerging risk areas for TBE, and define variables associated with performed TBE serology at the time of infection. Epidemiological data and microbiological diagnostics of cases with viral CNS infection of unknown etiology treated at departments of infectious diseases and pediatrics in Skåne County during 2000–2012 were investigated. Analyses to evaluate variables associated with performed TBE serology at the time of infection were performed. Retrospective TBE serology was performed on stored blood samples when available. TBE serology was already performed at the time of CNS infection in 193 out of 761 cases. Department, type of clinical manifestation, time period of illness, and whether Borrelia serology had been performed were independent variables associated with having had TBE serology performed or not at the time of illness. Only one of 137 cases, where samples could be retrospectively analyzed for TBE, turned out positive. This study shows a low frequency of TBE sampling among patients with meningoencephalitis in a region with emerging risk for TBE. A higher awareness of TBE as differential diagnosis could contribute to earlier detection of new risk areas and adequate preventive advice to the public.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Encephalitis, Epidemiological monitoring, Meningitis, TBEV, Tick-borne infection
in
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
volume
42
issue
1
pages
13 - 22
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:36322256
  • scopus:85141177900
ISSN
0934-9723
DOI
10.1007/s10096-022-04509-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0ea573ea-8830-4916-ab52-1f8402b9b495
date added to LUP
2022-12-21 12:20:54
date last changed
2024-04-18 16:51:31
@article{0ea573ea-8830-4916-ab52-1f8402b9b495,
  abstract     = {{<p>Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an emerging infection causing CNS infection of various severity. Good knowledge of the incidence in the population and defined risk areas is important in risk communication and vaccination recommendations. The aim of this study was to investigate potential underreporting by retrospectively diagnose TBE among patients with viral CNS infections of unknown etiology in a region with emerging risk areas for TBE, and define variables associated with performed TBE serology at the time of infection. Epidemiological data and microbiological diagnostics of cases with viral CNS infection of unknown etiology treated at departments of infectious diseases and pediatrics in Skåne County during 2000–2012 were investigated. Analyses to evaluate variables associated with performed TBE serology at the time of infection were performed. Retrospective TBE serology was performed on stored blood samples when available. TBE serology was already performed at the time of CNS infection in 193 out of 761 cases. Department, type of clinical manifestation, time period of illness, and whether Borrelia serology had been performed were independent variables associated with having had TBE serology performed or not at the time of illness. Only one of 137 cases, where samples could be retrospectively analyzed for TBE, turned out positive. This study shows a low frequency of TBE sampling among patients with meningoencephalitis in a region with emerging risk for TBE. A higher awareness of TBE as differential diagnosis could contribute to earlier detection of new risk areas and adequate preventive advice to the public.</p>}},
  author       = {{Waldeck, Mattias and Winqvist, Niclas and Henriksson, Gunnel and Dyrdak, Robert and Settergren, Bo and Lindgren, Per Eric}},
  issn         = {{0934-9723}},
  keywords     = {{Encephalitis; Epidemiological monitoring; Meningitis; TBEV; Tick-borne infection}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{13--22}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases}},
  title        = {{Surveillance of tick-borne encephalitis in emerging risk areas in southern Sweden : a retrospective case finding study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10096-022-04509-1}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10096-022-04509-1}},
  volume       = {{42}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}