[Serological studies of early summer meningoencephalitis risk in the Saarland].

To evaluate the risk of acquiring TBE in the Saarland, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) antibodies were investigated in the sera of 408 persons working in forestry, 44 patients with suspected viral infection of the central nervous system, and of 439 animals which had been particularly exposed to ticks. A complement fixation test was used for all sera. The human sera were additionally tested with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. TBE antibodies were found in eight forestry employees who had been vaccinated against TBE. All other persons as well as the animals did not show TBE antibodies. The very low antibody rate in the risk groups indicates that the Saarland is free of natural foci of TBE. At present, there is no argument for a general TBE immunprophylaxis in that area.