Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in dogs.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is caused by a Flavivirus and transmitted by ticks. It is known in dogs for nearly 30 years and the number of TBE cases is increasing. In addition to fever, cerebrocortical, thalamic, and brainstem symptoms occur simultaneously. Not all TBE infections in dogs lead to clinical signs but peracute/lethal as well as subacute and chronic courses have been reported. TBE is a seasonal disease, depending on climate related tick activity. Infected ticks are spreading the virus over central Europe with a tendency to expand to new endemic areas in western Europe.