The investigations on the structure of TBE foci were carried out in the localities Jívová (northern Moravia), Topolčianky and Žírany (Tribeč Mountains), and environs of Debreczén (Pannonian lowland, Hungary). The biphasic activity curve of Ixodes ricinus, characteristic for the central European conditions was confirmed in all three types.In some localities two or three tick species as vectors come into consideration and the unequal seasonal occurrence of individual species results in a permanent presence of virus-harbouring ticks in nature throughout the year.The average population density of ticks per hectare in a focus near topolčianky in mid-April, 1969, reached 46,000 nymphae and 50,000 adults. About 1% of the tick population were found to be viruliferous.Great differences were found in the composition of plant communities, mammalian synusies and in the population density of small mammals and ticks within the regions studied.Each elementary focus consists of many "microfoci" where the territories of individual host species overlap in space and time. Nests in tree holes and underground probably also belong to these microfoci. The maintenance hosts and indicators in each type of focus are mentioned. Free-living Carnivora can be considered as incidental hosts in each type of focus.

Institute of Vertebrate Zoology Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences Brno

Institute of Virology Slovak Academy of Sciences Bratislava

See more in PubMed

Prog Med Virol. 1972;14:275-320 PubMed

Bull World Health Organ. 1967;36 Suppl:31-47 PubMed

Bull World Health Organ. 1967;36 Suppl:67-71 PubMed

Zentralbl Bakteriol Orig. 1969;209(3):293-9 PubMed

Zentralbl Bakteriol Orig. 1969;211(3):400-2 PubMed

Zentralbl Bakteriol Orig. 1968;207(4):423-9 PubMed

Acta Virol. 1967 Sep;11(5):464-6 PubMed

Acta Virol. 1967 Sep;11(5):470-2 PubMed

Zentralbl Bakteriol Orig. 1968;208(1):81-7 PubMed

Zentralbl Bakteriol Orig. 1966 Feb;199(2):152-61 PubMed

Acta Virol. 1963 Nov;7:516-24 PubMed

Acta Virol. 1966 Jan;10(1):83 PubMed

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Acta Virol. 1966 Nov;10(6):557-60 PubMed

History of Arbovirus Research in the Czech Republic