Abstract:
The aim of the study is to determine the circulation of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) causal agents in the Ixodidae ticks population and the
evaluation of the TBE threat to public health. The species of ticks Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus, D. marginatus and Haemaphysalis punctata
can be often met in the ecosystems of the Republic of Moldova. The species I. ricinus is the most numerous and widespread one, the fact that shows
its high epidemiological significance. At the same time the species D. reticulatus, D. marginatus and H. punctata are the potential directions of TBE
maintaining the TBE viruses in the environment. The laboratory results got by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) have indicated the
TBE virus antigen in of 25.2% of the ticks, collected in the period of 2009-2012. Using the polymerase chain reaction method it has been established
that on average the RNA of TBE virus has been 8.1% of all tested tick samples. The specific antibodies to tick-borne encephalitis virus have been
identified in 9 (4%) tested human specimens. The rationalization of the system of epidemiological surveillance and control of tick-born encephalitis
consists in developing and implementing a definition of the case for report on the basis of clinical and laboratory criteria, as well as the communication
with epidemiological station, and studying to obtain standardized and comparable data.
