ArticlePathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2026
Underrecognized Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Serbia: Evidence from Patients with Suspected West Nile Virus Neuroinvasive Disease.
Dragana Mijatović, Ana Marija Radevska, Dejan Jakimovski, Lidija Popović-Dragonjić, Biljana Popovska Jovičić, Jagoda Gavrilović, Siniša Sević, Dajana Lendak, Irina Stojanac, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz and 5 more
Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraphArticle in Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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2 · The registryThe trial behind it
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4 · The recordCorrections and comments
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5 · Who and what moneyAuthors and funding
15 authors.
Dragana MijatovićDiagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0003-4970-0748 Ana Marija RadevskaEpidemiology and Biostatistics Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0009-0000-7976-0237 Dejan JakimovskiClinical Medicine Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0002-2178-7223 Lidija Popović-DragonjićClinical Medicine Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0003-3294-9803 Biljana Popovska JovičićClinical Medicine Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-9280-2251 Jagoda GavrilovićClinical Medicine Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
Siniša SevićClinic for Infectious Diseases, University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
Dajana LendakClinic for Infectious Diseases, University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0003-4323-1776 Irina StojanacClinic for Neurology, University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0009-0005-0504-7355 Alejandro Cabezas-CruzAnses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.ORCID 0000-0002-8660-730X Tomás Cervantes RincónInstitute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-6355-6781 Jasmine Oberti-CantergianiInstitute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland.ORCID 0009-0007-7826-6924 Davide F RobbianiInstitute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0001-7379-3484 Pavle BanovićDiagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-7902-6606 Funding
Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development 003874431 2025 09418 003 000 000 001Swiss National Science Foundation 320030L_231465
6 · The paper itselfAbstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an emerging vector-borne disease in Europe, but its epidemiology remains poorly defined in Serbia. In orthoflavivirus-endemic settings, diagnostic challenges may contribute to underrecognition of TBE, particularly among patients with suspected West Nile virus (WNV) infection. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study including patients hospitalized between 2018 and 2023 with suspected WNV neuroinvasive disease or viral encephalitis of unknown etiology. Serum samples were tested for TBEV-neutralizing antibodies using a microneutralization assay. Among 79 patients, TBEV-neutralizing antibodies were detected in four (5.1%). Most reactive cases occurred in patients initially classified as having suspected WNV-associated meningoencephalitis, while TBE had not been considered in the differential diagnosis at admission. These findings suggest that TBE may be underrecognized in Serbia and highlight the importance of confirmatory testing in orthoflavivirus-endemic settings. Strengthening clinical awareness and surveillance will be essential to better define the burden of TBE and inform prevention strategies.
Indexed as
Encephalitis, Tick-BorneEncephalitis Viruses, Tick-BorneWest Nile FeverWest Nile virusAdultAgedAntibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, ViralFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSerbiaAntibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, Viralneuroinvasive diseaseneutralization assayorthoflavivirusSerbiaserologytick-borne encephalitis virusunderdiagnosisWest Nile virus
Identifiers
PMID42347199
PMCPMC13306198
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