THE STRATEGY OF SELECTING ANTIBIOTICS FOR THERAPY OF BACTERIAL-INFECTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS

The capacity of wide-spectrum antibiotics kefzol and ristomycin to act ivate the persisting tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus and cause an exacerbation of chronic process was investigated in Syrian hamsters in whom a prolonged (77 to 270 days) persistent TBE infection was induce d by three TBE strains: Vasilchenko, V383, and 205. The degree of anti biotic-induced activation was assessed using the criteria characterizi ng tile reproduction and peculiarities of persisting TBE virus, immuno depression, and morphologic changes in the central nervous system. Eff ects of kefzol and ristomycin were compared with those of 8 antibiotic s studied previously. Ristomycin, levomycetin (chloramphycin), penicil lin, ampicillin (ampital), and levoridan were referred to drugs devoid of evident provoking effect. Kefzol (cefamezin), florimycin (viomycin ), and kanamycin (kanamytrex) were characterized as weak activators an d streptomycin and tetracycline as potent activators of the persisting TBE virus. These data may be used when selecting alternative agents f or therapy of secondary bacterial infections concomitant with TBE.