[Erve and Eyach: two viruses isolated in France, neuropathogenic for man and widely distributed in Western Europe].

Two arboviruses have been isolated from Mayenne, western France, in 1981-1982, during systematic field surveys: Eyach virus, a cultivirus from Ixodes ricinus and I. ventalloi ticks, and Erve virus, a nairovirus from the tissues of white-toothed shrews, Crocidura russula. For many years, these two viruses were considered as "orphan viruses" without pathogenic power for man, since it became evident that they circulate actively in Europe among populations of wild small and large mammals. Moreover, these viruses are able to infect human beings and were responsible for severe neurological disorders. The presently known geographical distribution of these agents includes France, Germany, Netherlands and Czech Republic.