Geoecological analysis of the spread of tick-borne encephalitis in central Europe

Abstract

The Central European Encephalitis (CEE) is a virus infection of the nervous system transmitted by ticks. Its main vector in Europe is Ixodes ricinus. The time of first evidence and the distribution pattern in some European countries is pointed out. 121 cases of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Baden-Württemberg (Fed. Rep. of Germany) from the period of 1969–1976 are analysed regarding their relation to potential natural vegetation and climatological data and 8 natural foci are pointed out. In newly reported cases from 1978 and 1979 the biotopes of infected ticks are analysed more in detail.