TBE in Moldova
Wilhelm Erber and Tamara Vuković-Janković
ECDC risk status: affected
(limited data available)
History and current situation
Although there are no reliable data on the number of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases or the percentage of infected ticks, based on the geography and the presence of TBE virus (TBEV) in all neighboring countries, it must be assumed that TBEV is present somewhere in Moldova.
The Far Eastern subtype (TBEV-FE) was detected in 3 different species of ticks collected from domestic animals and agricultural lands in the Republic of Moldova between 2010 and 2011 (Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor spp. and Haemaphysalis spp.).1 The World Health Organization (WHO) Centralized Information System for Infectious Diseases (CISID) collects data on the incidence of TBE; however, in 2005 and 2006 Moldova officially reported zero TBE cases.2
Overview of TBE in Moldova
| Table 1: Virus, vector, transmission of TBE in Moldova | |
|---|---|
| Viral subtypes, distribution | Far Eastern subtype (TBEV-FE)1 |
| Reservoir animals | Information not available |
| Infected tick species (%) | 3.8% I. ricinus ticks (3/78), 3.9% D. reticulatus ticks (3/77) and 8.8% Haemaphysalis punctate ticks (3/34) were positive for TBEV RNA1 |
| Dairy product transmission | Not documented |
| Table 2: TBE-reporting and vaccine prevention in Moldova | |
|---|---|
| Mandatory TBE reporting | Not mandatory |
| Other TBE-surveillance | Not applicable |
| Special clinical features | Information not available |
| Available vaccines | Not applicable |
| Vaccination recommendations and reimbursement | No recommendations |
| Vaccine uptake by age group/ risk group/ general population | Data not available |
| Name, address/website of TBE National Reference Center | National Centre of Public Health of Moldova (Ministry of Health) http://cnsp.md/ (available only in local language) |
Burden of TBE in Moldova over time: no data available
Age and gender distribution of TBE in Moldova: no data available
TBEV-isolation and TBE cases in Moldova: no reported cases of TBE in the country
Contact:
Citation:
Erber W, Vuković-Janković T. TBE in Moldova. Chapter 12b. In: Dobler G, Erber W, Bröker M, Schmitt HJ, eds. The TBE Book. 6th ed. Singapore: Global Health Press;2023. doi:10.33442/26613980_12b21-6
References
- Ponomareva EP, Mikryukova TP, Gori AV, et al. Detection of Far-Eastern subtype of tick-borne encephalitis viral RNA in ticks collected in the Republic of Moldova. J Vector Borne Dis. 2015;52(4):334-6.
- Amicizia D, Domnich A, Panatto D, et al. Epidemiology of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Europe and its prevention by available vaccines. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2013;9(5):1163–71.