Tick-borne encephalitis

Abstract

Purpose of review: Tick-borne encephalitis continues to be one of the most significant causes of viral encephalitis in Europe and Asia. This review will focus on recent developments in the epidemiology, pathogenesis and therapeutic approaches related to infection with tick-borne encephalitis virus.

Recent findings: There is a growing consensus that tick-borne encephalitis viruses are increasing in geographical range, with countries previously free of disease reporting detection of both human cases and presence of virus within indigenous tick populations. The drivers for this are multifactorial but underpinned by human-mediated climate change. Recent developments in pathogenesis have focussed on the intracellular response to infection, particularly in different cell types within the central nervous system (CNS) that are revealing the array of cellular networks triggered by infection. This in turn highlights the need for small molecule therapeutics, such as nucleoside analogues, that can enter the CNS, and the intracellular environment, to inhibit virus replication following neuroinvasion.

Summary: Based on continued epidemiological surveillance, tick-borne encephalitis viruses will increasingly affect human populations in Europe and Asia. Much of the research highlighted in this review demonstrates incremental advances in our understanding of these viruses. However, more is required if effective prevention and treatment of this devastating encephalitic viruses are to be realized.