Unrecognized Subclinical Infection with Tickborne Encephalitis Virus, Japan

Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Oct;23(10):1753-1754. doi: 10.3201/eid2310.170918.

Abstract

During early 2017, we conducted a seroepidemiologic investigation for tickborne encephalitis virus among 291 Japan Self-Defense Forces members in Hokkaido. Two (0.7%) tested positive. Neither had clinically apparent symptoms after removing ticks.

Keywords: Japan; Japanese encephalitis virus; Subclinical infection; flaviviruses; neutralizing antibody; seroepidemiologic study; tick-borne encephalitis virus; ticks; vector-borne infections; viruses; zoonoses.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Asymptomatic Infections
  • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / immunology
  • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / isolation & purification*
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / epidemiology*
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / transmission
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / virology
  • Humans
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Ticks / virology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral