SEROLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS INDICATING THE EXISTENCE OF TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS FOCI ALONG THE NORWEGIAN COAST

As a part of investigations attempting to establish the existence and the extent of Tick-borne encephalitis viruses in Norway, the haemagglutination inhibition test was carried out using selected bovine sera from areas with Zxodes ricinus-invaded pastures. 14 out of 81 sera were sero-positive with titres higher than 10. Indications are given of an active endemic area in Sunnfjord, as well as virus foci in other localities. It is concluded that Tick-borne encephalitis, which is not considered a problem in Norway at present, may be more common than previously realized, and that more attention should be given to it, both by clinicians and microbiologists.