ECOLOGICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TICK-BORN ENCEPHALITIS AND TICK BORRELIOSIS (THE LIME DISEASE) IN KALININGRAD OBLAST

Abstract

Abstract. Results of monitoring of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and tick borreliosis (TB) in the western enclave of Russia in Kaliningrad oblast in 1999-2008 are presented in the article. The number of basic vector of the agents of these infections — I. ricinus during the analyzing period in the territory of Kurshskaya spit increased. The number of tick attacked persons in the oblast also increased. Despite these events the TBE incidence rates remained not so high and have tendency to decrease. At the same time the TB morbidity has moderate trend to increase. The link between increase of average annual air temperature and incidence of "tick" infections was not proved for the studying period of time. The people of pre-pension and pension ages living in cities more often suffer from TBE and TB. The most part of patients are exposed to tick attack during visiting of rest places. It was determined that eastern districts of Kaliningrad oblast are more problematic on "tick" infections.

Keywords

• tick-born encephalitis
• tick borreliosis
• i. ricinus
• morbidity
• suffered from tick attack
• climate and social factors