Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infection of the central nervous system
and is caused by tick bites, usually after travel to rural or forested areas. The disease is
prevalent in Scandinavia, Western Europe, Central Europe and the former Soviet Union
and East Asia including Japan. In Malaysia, so far there are no reported cases of TBE. In
the present time, many illnesses have been attributed to traveling to other parts of the
world. Thus it is important to carry out TBE prevalence study to determine whether the
virus is present among Malaysian population. Samples (sera and CSF) from patients
admitted to major MOH hospitals in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah with a clinical
diagnosis of encephalitis but is IgM negative for JE, were tested for TBEV IgM ELISA
and TBEV IgG ELISA (DRG, Germany).Out of the 600 samples screened for TBEV
IgG, all were non-reactive. In addition, out of the 100 samples screened for TBEV IgM,
all the samples were also non-reactive. Our results indicate that currently TBE is not
present in the Malaysian population. Among the reasons for this could be lack of the
infection agent, absence of the suitable vector or subjects selected for the study did not fit
the criteria of possible exposure to TBE infections. Hence we recommend that for any
future study, the selection of subjects should include those who returned from tickinfested forested areas.