alphaCube TBEV/WNV is an assay for the simultaneous qualitive in vitro detection of Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus (TBEV) RNA and West Nile Virus (WNV) RNA, extracted from biological specimens.
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a disease caused by the Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus. The disease pattern includes flu-like symptoms and fever. TBE most often manifests as meningitis, encephalitis or meningoencephalitis. However, most patients show no symptoms after infection. The disease is transmitted by the sting of an infected tick, mainly Ixodes ricinus. A causative treatment against TBE is not possible. Beside common precautions like scanning the body for ticks, active vaccination is the most effective method for preventing TBE. Vaccination is recommended for all persons in high-risk areas. Reliable diagnosis can be made on the basis of symptoms, course of disease, anamnesis and serological findings. To better evaluate the risk of infection after the sting of a tick, the tick can be tested by real time RT-PCR for the presence of TBEV RNA. There is no curative therapy for TBE. In severe cases, interferons are administered. Alltogether the therapy is restricted to symptomatic measures. Bed rest and dimout of the sick room can help to avoid complications.
West Nile virus infection is an arthropod-borne zoonosis that is endemo-epidemic in Europe. The disease affects countries in Southern, Eastern and Western Europe. WNV is transmitted among birds via the bite of infected mosquitoes and ticks and incidentally humans and other mammals may become infected. About 80 % of WNV infections in humans are asymptomatic. West Nile fever (WNF) is the most common clinical manifestation. The elderly and immunocompromised persons are at higher risk of developing West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND). No specific prophylaxis or treatment exist against the disease in humans. WNF is characterised by a sudden onset of symptoms that may include headache, malaise, fever, myalgia, vomiting, rash, fatigue and eye pain. Symptom severity ranges from a mild self-limiting illness from which patients recover within one week to a protracted debilitating disease that can last for months. WNND involves symptoms that affect the central nervous system. These can be categorised clinically as meningitis, encephalitis and acute flaccid paralysis or a combination of the three. Risk factors include advanced age, malignancies disrupting the blood–brain barrier, hypertension, hematologic disorders, diabetes mellitus, renal disease, alcohol abuse and genetic factors. The case fatality ratio among patients with WNND can be up to 17 %.
