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Tick-borne encephalitis in Slovenia: data from a questionnaire survey
Mateja Blasko-Markic1, Maja Socan
1National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)
|March 28, 2012
Summary
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) incidence is rising, with Slovenia experiencing high rates. This study surveyed TBE cases to understand tick bite details, patient activities, and infection locations, revealing widespread risk across counties.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) incidence has significantly increased globally in recent decades.
- Slovenia exhibits one of the highest TBE incidence rates within the European Union, indicating endemicity.
- Existing notification systems lack comprehensive epidemiological data on TBE cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To gather detailed epidemiological data on TBE cases beyond standard notification.
- To analyze factors influencing tick bites, including location, duration, and patient activities.
- To map the geographical distribution of TBE viral (TBEV) infection risk in Slovenia.
Main Methods:
- A survey of 2779 notified TBE cases in Slovenia from 1999 to 2009.
- Anonymous, self-administered questionnaires were used, achieving a 69.5% response rate.
- Data collected included tick bite details, patient demographics, activities, preventive measures, and probable infection locations.
Main Results:
- Over 82% of responders reported a tick bite, with bite locations varying by age and gender (e.g., torso in males, legs in females, head/neck in young children).
- Tick attachment duration was often short (<6 hours for 23.5%), with longer attachments (>24 hours) reported by 10%.
- Common activities associated with tick bites included leisure (32.8%), foraging (30.2%), and farming (23.3%).
- Nearly two-thirds of patients used preventive measures, primarily self-inspection, with repellent use being least common.
- Geographical mapping indicated widespread TBE risk, particularly in northern and central Slovenian counties.
Conclusions:
- Tick bite characteristics and associated activities provide insights into TBE transmission dynamics.
- Preventive measure adherence is moderate, suggesting potential for improved public health interventions.
- The study highlights a widespread geographical risk for TBEV infection in Slovenia, with specific high-risk areas identified.
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