[Characteristics of tick-borne encephalitis virus strains isolated from patients with chronic diseases of the central nervous system].

Two groups of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus strains were studied: Group 1, 5 strains isolated from patients with chronic TBE with progressive course, Group 2, 13 strains isolated from residents of an endemic locality, with chronic diseases of the CNS (amiotrophic lateral sclerosis, epidemic encephalitis, polyoencephalomyelitis, syringomyelia, etc.). Strains of both groups belong to two serotypes of TBE virus: mid-Siberian and Transbaikal (synonym Aina/1448) and eastern. Group 1 strains were heterogeneous in their virulence, immunogenic and surface properties of the virions. The latter characteristic was demonstrated in studies of elution from macropore glass and sensitivity of hemagglutinin to the effect of detergents (Bridge-96, Tween-80). Eight of 13 Group 2 patients had concurrent diseases (tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, tumors, etc.). Streptomycin was demonstrated to activate asymptomatic infection with TBE virus in hamsters. It is assumed that isolation of TBE virus from Group 2 patients could be due to activation of persistent infection under the effect of concurrent diseases and drugs.