Emerging Patterns of Tick-Virus Relationships

Abstract

The foundation of knowledge regarding tick-virus relationships is the comprehensive investigation into physiochemical properties and serological classification of arboviruses by Jordi Casals and his colleagues at the Yale Arbovirus Research Unit. Basic epidemiological knowledge derives from a few long-term or intensive field and laboratory research programs devoted to Russian spring-summer encephalitis (RSSE), European tickborne encephalitis (TBE), and Indian Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD). Work with these pathogens also led to recovery of numerous different viruses. Biological and epidemiological knowledge, still in the pioneer stage for most of these viruses, reflects the specific concern, location and range of movement, imagination, and competence of scientists in a few widely scattered virological and biomedical research institutes.