[Experimental basis of a protocol for the pathogenetic immunotherapy of tick-borne encephalitis]

In experimental tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in mice with suppressed immunity, the effectiveness of serotherapy increases markedly. Antibodies prevented the development of persistent infection in the immunosuppressed animals. Antiviral antibodies were shown in vivo to be capable of inhibiting the development of the damaging effect of T-killers immune to the virus. The experimental evidence permits one to formulate the principle of pathogenetic immunotherapy of acute forms of experimental TBE stipulating the use of specific antibodies in the presence of temporary inhibition of the T-cell function.