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Biomedical subjects

D Blaskovic

Publications and source records attributed to D Blaskovic.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1967

The public health importance of tick-borne encephalitis in Europe.

After an historical survey establishing the distinction between Russian spring-summer encephalitis, a serious disease with a high mortality rate caused by a virus spread by the tick Ixodes persulcatus, and the milder Central European encephalitis, which is spread by I. ricinus, the public health aspects of the latter disease are discussed. The factors affecting the incidence of the disease-tick population, role of rodents and insectivores, etc.-are considered. Only a small proportion of those infected develop clinical symptoms. Measures for the control of the disease include (a) vaccination of humans, (b) reduction of the tick population by cultivation of the land, by spreading the enemies of ticks and by dusting with insecticides, and (c) reduction of the infectivity of ticks by vaccination of domestic animals. It is concluded that, under the conditions prevailing in Central Europe, mass vaccination is not to be recommended, although those working regularly within a natural focus of infection should be vaccinated.

Encephalitis, Arbovirus↗
PubMed1967

An epidemiological study of tick-borne encephalitis in the Tribec region: 1953-63.

As part of an investigation on tick-borne encephalitis in the Tribec region of Czechoslovakia, an epidemiological study has been carried out on 445 cases diagnosed as "virus meningo-encephalitis" over the period 1953-63. The average morbidity rate was 19.3 per 100 000 inhabitants, ranging from 107.9 in 1955 to 3.3 in 1961. The lowest morbidity rates were in the 0-4 years and 60+years age-groups (5.7 and 5.5, respectively) and the highest rate was in the 10-14 years age-group (33.2). When the figures for 1960-63 were analysed, the highest rate (21.3) was found among adult farmers and forestry workers. The morbidity rates in the Tribec region are, on average, 2.6 times those for Czechoslovakia as a whole and 4.7 times those for Slovakia. There is a seasonal variation in incidence, with a maximum in June.The most frequent method of infection was by tick bite. Villages in the south-east of the region had a higher incidence of disease than those in the north-west. Serological examinations revealed variations in activity within the focus: whereas, of 93 inhabitants of four villages who had suffered from "virus meningo-encephalitis", 63 (68%) had antibodies against tick-borne encephalitis virus, none of 95 randomly selected inhabitants of a village with no reported cases of the disease had antibodies. More accurate diagnosis of the disease has been achieved by the introduction of serological and cultivation procedures.

Czechoslovakia↗