Tick-borne encephalitis in Serbia: A case series

Authors

  • Jasmina Poluga Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Aleksandra Barac Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Natasa Katanic Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Salvatore Rubino Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
  • Branko Milosevic Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Aleksandar Urosevic Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Nikola Mitrovic Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Ivana Kelic Institute for Public Health “Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut”, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Jelena Micic Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Goran Stevanovic Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.11516

Keywords:

Tick-borne encephalitis, Serbia, case-series, meningitis, encephalitis

Abstract

Introduction: In the Europe, the number of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has been increased in the last decade, and the number of endemic areas has been also increased and is still growing. In the present case series, we present clinical and socio-epidemiological data of patients with TBE hospitalized in the period of TBE virus epidemic in Serbia.

Methodology: A case series was conducted in Serbia in 2017. Patients with confirmed TBE were included in the study. Biochemical and serological analysis of blood and CSF, as well as radiological imaging (CT and MRI) were done.

Results: In total, 10 patients with TBE were included in the study. M:F ratio was 1.5:1, while average age was 45.1 years. Half of the patients had severe clinical picture. Endocranial CT scan and MRI did not reveal any abnormality, except in the patient with the most severe CNS infection (meningoencephalomyelitis). Mean value of sedimentation and CRP was slightly elevated (29.6 mm/1hours and 20.1 mg/L, respectively) in 80% of the patients, although elevation was almost negligible. The average number of leucocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was 171×106/L, the mean value of the CSF protein was 1.1g/L. There were no fatal outcomes.

Conclusion: Since other CNS infections have similar clinical picture and CSF finding as TBE, serological analysis for TBE should be included in routine diagnostic practice.

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Published

2019-06-30

How to Cite

1.
Poluga J, Barac A, Katanic N, Rubino S, Milosevic B, Urosevic A, Mitrovic N, Kelic I, Micic J, Stevanovic G (2019) Tick-borne encephalitis in Serbia: A case series. J Infect Dev Ctries 13:510–515. doi: 10.3855/jidc.11516

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 06: June 2019

Section

Original Articles

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