ROLE OF HUMORAL IMMUNE FACTORS IN ELIMINATION OF TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS IN NON-VACCINATED PERSONS, AND IN THOSE VACCINATED AGAINST TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS

Abstract

Abstract. We present some results concerning investigation of humoral immune factors (virus-specific antibodies, complement components, total serum immunoglobulins, circulating immune complexes), and the levels of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) viral antigenemia in the persons subjected to stings of ticks. Elimination of the virus in vaccinated people with short-term antigenemia, with higher indices of innate humoral immunity and virus-specific antibodies, proved to be faster while being more complete than in non-vaccinated persons. In cases of a long-term TBE antigenemia, both vaccinated and non-vaccinated people showed low levels of virusspecific antibodies along with decreased natural resistance, thus, probably, contributing to delayed elimination of TBE virus.

Keywords

• tick-borne encephalitis
• humoral immunity
• virus elimination