MIXED NATURAL FOCUS OF TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS, TULAREMIA AND HEMORRHAGIC-FEVER WITH RENAL SYNDROME IN WEST SLOVAKIA

Total of 923 small mammals of 7 species were collected in locality Zah orska Ves, West Slovakia, in 1990 - 1992. Among examined small mammal species it was Clethrionomys glareolus (48.7% of total, 17.5% positive for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus antibodies), Apodemus flavico llis (29.7% of total, 17.5% positive), A. sylvaticus (11.3% of total, 16.3% positive), and Microtus arvalis (6.2% of total, 10.5% positive). The most abundant tick species (larval and nymphal stages) on small m ammals was Ixodes ricinus. The extensity of infestation was 35.1 - 50. 7%, and the intensity of infestation ranged in average from 4.1 to 7.8 ticks per animal. Out of 884 smalll rodent serum samples 16.9% had ne utralizing antibody to TBE virus. Eight TBE virus isolates were recove red, six from C. glareolus and one each from A. flavicollis and A. syl vaticus; seven isolates were from brain tissue and one was from a pool of lung and liver tissues. One strain of Francisella tularensis was i solated from a pool of spleens of four C. glareolus collected in Augus t 1991. Hantavirus antigens were detected in lung tissues of four M. a rvalis collected in July and November 1990 - 1992. Antibody to Hantaan virus was detected by ELISA in one serum sample of A, flavicollis (ti ter 1:256) and antibody to Puumala virus in one serum sample of C. gla reolrrs (titer 1:16).