FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Microbiol / Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection in horses: cl...
Veterinary microbiology2013; 163(3-4); 368-372; doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.12.041

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection in horses: clinical and laboratory findings and epidemiological investigations.

Abstract: During a routine examination of 130 horse sera from 13 herds in Thuringia one TBEV antibody positive serum - with a very high titre - could be detected. The horse had been bought from a holding in Bavaria, and was reported to have clinical signs that may have been caused by a TBEV infection. To identify the source of the suspected TBEV infection, ticks from the surroundings of the barn in Thuringia as well as horse sera and ticks from two herds in Bavaria were examined. In the holding in Bavaria, where the horse was kept before, two out of ten horse sera were found to be TBEV antibody positive (20%), in a second herd nearby five out of 15 horse sera were TBEV antibody positive (30%), and in one serum TBEV-RNA could be detected. In addition, at both Bavarian sites, two different TBEV strains were detected in ticks collected in the vicinity of the respective holdings and in the surrounding areas. In contrast, no TBEV-RNA could be found in ticks collected in Thuringia. The suitability of horses as sentinels for the detection of natural TBEV foci supported by subsequent, targeted tick collection as well as the clinical importance of TBEV infection in horses are discussed.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2013-01-29 PubMed ID: 23395291DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.12.041Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study investigates incidences of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus (TBEV) in horses, categorizing its clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, as well as carrying out epidemiological investigations to determine potential sources of the virus.

Background and Methods

  • The research was initiated after detecting a case of TBEV during a routine examination of 130 horse sera from 13 herds in Thuringia, Germany.
  • The horse in question showed signs that suggested TBEV infection and was bought from a holding in Bavaria.
  • To identify the source of the TBEV infection, ticks from the horse’s new surroundings in Thuringia and its previous location in Bavaria were examined.
  • Horse sera and ticks from two Bavarian herds were also examined.

Findings

  • In Bavaria, where the horse was originally kept, TBEV antibodies were found in 20% (2 out of 10) of horse sera.
  • In a nearby Bavarian herd, a higher percentage (30%) or 5 out of 15 horse sera were TBEV antibody positive.
  • TBEV-RNA was detected in one serum.
  • Two different TBEV strains were identified in ticks collected from the vicinity of the Bavarian holdings and the surrounding areas.
  • In contrast, no TBEV-RNA was found in ticks collected in Thuringia, the new location of the initially infected horse.

Conclusion and Discussion

  • The study contributes to the understanding of TBEV infections in horses, including symptomology and the potential geographic-related prevalence of the disease.
  • It posits the potential role of horses as sentinels for the detection of TBEV in natural environments.
  • The research also throws light on the importance of considering geographic location as a significant factor in TBEV infection rates, given the diverse results between Thuringia and Bavaria.

Cite This Article

APA
Klaus C, Hörügel U, Hoffmann B, Beer M. (2013). Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection in horses: clinical and laboratory findings and epidemiological investigations. Vet Microbiol, 163(3-4), 368-372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.12.041

Publication

Veterinary microbiology
ISSN: 1873-2542
NlmUniqueID: 7705469
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 163
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 368-372
PII: S0378-1135(13)00059-X

Researcher Affiliations

Klaus, C
  • Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Naumburger Str. 96a, D-07743 Jena, Germany. christine.klaus@fli.bund.de
Hörügel, U
    Hoffmann, B
      Beer, M

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Antibodies, Viral / blood
        • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / genetics
        • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / immunology
        • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / physiology
        • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / diagnosis
        • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / epidemiology
        • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / veterinary
        • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / virology
        • Female
        • Germany
        • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
        • Horse Diseases / pathology
        • Horses
        • Male
        • Molecular Sequence Data
        • Seroepidemiologic Studies
        • Ticks / virology

        Citations

        This article has been cited 31 times.
        1. Gothe LMR, Ganzenberg S, Ziegler U, Obiegala A, Lohmann KL, Sieg M, Vahlenkamp TW, Groschup MH, Hörügel U, Pfeffer M. Horses as Sentinels for the Circulation of Flaviviruses in Eastern-Central Germany. Viruses 2023 Apr 30;15(5).
          doi: 10.3390/v15051108pubmed: 37243194google scholar: lookup
        2. Trozzi G, Adjadj NR, Vervaeke M, Matthijs S, Sohier C, De Regge N. Comparison of Serological Methods for Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus-Specific Antibody Detection in Wild Boar and Sheep: Impact of the Screening Approach on the Estimated Seroprevalence. Viruses 2023 Feb 6;15(2).
          doi: 10.3390/v15020459pubmed: 36851673google scholar: lookup
        3. Keller M, Peter N, Holicki CM, Schantz AV, Ziegler U, Eiden M, Dörge DD, Vilcinskas A, Groschup MH, Klimpel S. SARS-CoV-2 and West Nile Virus Prevalence Studies in Raccoons and Raccoon Dogs from Germany. Viruses 2022 Nov 19;14(11).
          doi: 10.3390/v14112559pubmed: 36423168google scholar: lookup
        4. Cavalleri JV, Korbacska-Kutasi O, Leblond A, Paillot R, Pusterla N, Steinmann E, Tomlinson J. European College of Equine Internal Medicine consensus statement on equine flaviviridae infections in Europe. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Nov;36(6):1858-1871.
          doi: 10.1111/jvim.16581pubmed: 36367340google scholar: lookup
        5. Magouras I, Schoster A, Fouché N, Gerber V, Groschup MH, Ziegler U, Fricker R, Griot C, Vögtlin A. Neurological disease suspected to be caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus infection in 6 horses in Switzerland. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Nov;36(6):2254-2262.
          doi: 10.1111/jvim.16533pubmed: 36093849google scholar: lookup
        6. Ganzenberg S, Sieg M, Ziegler U, Pfeffer M, Vahlenkamp TW, Hörügel U, Groschup MH, Lohmann KL. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Equine West Nile Virus Infections in Eastern Germany, 2020. Viruses 2022 May 30;14(6).
          doi: 10.3390/v14061191pubmed: 35746662google scholar: lookup
        7. Da Rold G, Obber F, Monne I, Milani A, Ravagnan S, Toniolo F, Sgubin S, Zamperin G, Foiani G, Vascellari M, Drzewniokova P, Castellan M, De Benedictis P, Citterio CV. Clinical Tick-Borne Encephalitis in a Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus L.). Viruses 2022 Jan 31;14(2).
          doi: 10.3390/v14020300pubmed: 35215891google scholar: lookup
        8. Bergmann F, Trachsel DS, Stoeckle SD, Bernis Sierra J, Lübke S, Groschup MH, Gehlen H, Ziegler U. Seroepidemiological Survey of West Nile Virus Infections in Horses from Berlin/Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Viruses 2022 Jan 25;14(2).
          doi: 10.3390/v14020243pubmed: 35215837google scholar: lookup
        9. Ličková M, Fumačová Havlíková S, Sláviková M, Klempa B. Alimentary Infections by Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus. Viruses 2021 Dec 30;14(1).
          doi: 10.3390/v14010056pubmed: 35062261google scholar: lookup
        10. de Heus P, Kolodziejek J, Hubálek Z, Dimmel K, Racher V, Nowotny N, Cavalleri JV. West Nile Virus and Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Are Endemic in Equids in Eastern Austria. Viruses 2021 Sep 19;13(9).
          doi: 10.3390/v13091873pubmed: 34578454google scholar: lookup
        11. Fouché N, Oesch S, Ziegler U, Gerber V. Clinical Presentation and Laboratory Diagnostic Work-Up of a Horse with Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Switzerland. Viruses 2021 Jul 28;13(8).
          doi: 10.3390/v13081474pubmed: 34452340google scholar: lookup
        12. Blomqvist G, Näslund K, Svensson L, Beck C, Valarcher JF. Mapping geographical areas at risk for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) by analysing bulk tank milk from Swedish dairy cattle herds for the presence of TBE virus-specific antibodies. Acta Vet Scand 2021 Apr 7;63(1):16.
          doi: 10.1186/s13028-021-00580-4pubmed: 33827636google scholar: lookup
        13. Girl P, Haut M, Riederer S, Pfeffer M, Dobler G. Comparison of Three Serological Methods for the Epidemiological Investigation of TBE in Dogs. Microorganisms 2021 Feb 15;9(2).
          doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9020399pubmed: 33671962google scholar: lookup
        14. Pautienius A, Armonaite A, Simkute E, Zagrabskaite R, Buitkuviene J, Alpizar-Jara R, Grigas J, Zakiene I, Zienius D, Salomskas A, Stankevicius A. Cross-Sectional Study on the Prevalence and Factors Influencing Occurrence of Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Horses in Lithuania. Pathogens 2021 Jan 31;10(2).
          doi: 10.3390/pathogens10020140pubmed: 33572628google scholar: lookup
        15. Waindok P, Raue K, Grilo ML, Siebert U, Strube C. Predators in northern Germany are reservoirs for parasites of One Health concern. Parasitol Res 2021 Dec;120(12):4229-4239.
          doi: 10.1007/s00436-021-07073-3pubmed: 33547507google scholar: lookup
        16. Springer A, Glass A, Topp AK, Strube C. Zoonotic Tick-Borne Pathogens in Temperate and Cold Regions of Europe-A Review on the Prevalence in Domestic Animals. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:604910.
          doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.604910pubmed: 33363242google scholar: lookup
        17. Khamassi Khbou M, Romdhane R, Foughali AA, Sassi L, Suin V, Rekik M, Benzarti M. Presence of antibodies against tick-borne encephalitis virus in sheep in Tunisia, North Africa. BMC Vet Res 2020 Nov 12;16(1):441.
          doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02651-6pubmed: 33183295google scholar: lookup
        18. Gethmann J, Hoffmann B, Kasbohm E, Süss J, Habedank B, Conraths FJ, Beer M, Klaus C. Research paper on abiotic factors and their influence on Ixodes ricinus activity-observations over a two-year period at several tick collection sites in Germany. Parasitol Res 2020 May;119(5):1455-1466.
          doi: 10.1007/s00436-020-06666-8pubmed: 32219549google scholar: lookup
        19. Lecollinet S, Pronost S, Coulpier M, Beck C, Gonzalez G, Leblond A, Tritz P. Viral Equine Encephalitis, a Growing Threat to the Horse Population in Europe?. Viruses 2019 Dec 24;12(1).
          doi: 10.3390/v12010023pubmed: 31878129google scholar: lookup
        20. Paulsen KM, Granquist EG, Okstad W, Vikse R, Stiasny K, Andreassen ÅK, Stuen S. Experimental infection of lambs with tick-borne encephalitis virus and co-infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. PLoS One 2019;14(12):e0226836.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226836pubmed: 31856227google scholar: lookup
        21. Michelitsch A, Tews BA, Klaus C, Bestehorn-Willmann M, Dobler G, Beer M, Wernike K. In Vivo Characterization of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Bank Voles (Myodes glareolus). Viruses 2019 Nov 15;11(11).
          doi: 10.3390/v11111069pubmed: 31731773google scholar: lookup
        22. Michelitsch A, Wernike K, Klaus C, Dobler G, Beer M. Exploring the Reservoir Hosts of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus. Viruses 2019 Jul 22;11(7).
          doi: 10.3390/v11070669pubmed: 31336624google scholar: lookup
        23. Rieille N, Klaus C, Hoffmann D, Péter O, Voordouw MJ. Goats as sentinel hosts for the detection of tick-borne encephalitis risk areas in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. BMC Vet Res 2017 Jul 11;13(1):217.
          doi: 10.1186/s12917-017-1136-ypubmed: 28693561google scholar: lookup
        24. Beck C, Desprès P, Paulous S, Vanhomwegen J, Lowenski S, Nowotny N, Durand B, Garnier A, Blaise-Boisseau S, Guitton E, Yamanaka T, Zientara S, Lecollinet S. A High-Performance Multiplex Immunoassay for Serodiagnosis of Flavivirus-Associated Neurological Diseases in Horses. Biomed Res Int 2015;2015:678084.
          doi: 10.1155/2015/678084pubmed: 26457301google scholar: lookup
        25. Klaus C, Ziegler U, Kalthoff D, Hoffmann B, Beer M. Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) - findings on cross reactivity and longevity of TBEV antibodies in animal sera. BMC Vet Res 2014 Apr 1;10:78.
          doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-10-78pubmed: 24690234google scholar: lookup
        26. Ziegler U, Angenvoort J, Klaus C, Nagel-Kohl U, Sauerwald C, Thalheim S, Horner S, Braun B, Kenklies S, Tyczka J, Keller M, Groschup MH. Use of competition ELISA for monitoring of West Nile virus infections in horses in Germany. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2013 Jul 24;10(8):3112-20.
          doi: 10.3390/ijerph10083112pubmed: 23887620google scholar: lookup
        27. Grandi G, Han S, Ullman K, Albihn A, Moutailler S, Galon C, Öborn L, Choklikitumnuey P, Högberg A, Ganchenko G, de Jong A, Omazic A. High-throughput screening for tick-borne pathogens in Ixodid ticks collected through crowdsourcing in northern Sweden. Acta Vet Scand 2026 Feb 18;68(1).
          doi: 10.1186/s13028-026-00854-9pubmed: 41709341google scholar: lookup
        28. Tolnai CH, Forgách P, Marosi A, Fehér O, Paszerbovics B, Tenk M, Wagenhoffer Z, Kutasi O. Long-Term Humoral Immune Response After West Nile Virus Convalescence in Horses in a Geographic Area of Multiple Orthoflavivirus Co-Circulation. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Jul-Aug;39(4):e70176.
          doi: 10.1111/jvim.70176pubmed: 40525557google scholar: lookup
        29. Kälin D, Becsek A, Stürmer H, Bachofen C, Siegrist D, Jonsdottir HR, Schoster A. Immune Response after Vaccination against Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus (TBEV) in Horses. Vaccines (Basel) 2024 Sep 19;12(9).
          doi: 10.3390/vaccines12091074pubmed: 39340104google scholar: lookup
        30. Vilibic-Cavlek T, Krcmar S, Bogdanic M, Tomljenovic M, Barbic L, Roncevic D, Sabadi D, Vucelja M, Santini M, Hunjak B, Stevanovic V, Boljfetic M, Bjedov L, Masovic V, Potocnik-Hunjadi T, Lakoseljac D, Al-Mufleh M, Savic V. An Overview of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Epidemiology in Endemic Regions of Continental Croatia, 2017-2023. Microorganisms 2024 Feb 13;12(2).
          doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12020386pubmed: 38399790google scholar: lookup
        31. de Heus P, Bagó Z, Weidinger P, Lale D, Trachsel DS, Revilla-Fernández S, Matiasek K, Nowotny N. Severe Neurologic Disease in a Horse Caused by Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus, Austria, 2021. Viruses 2023 Sep 29;15(10).
          doi: 10.3390/v15102022pubmed: 37896799google scholar: lookup
        Subscribe to our newsletter
        Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.