Louping Ill

Louping -ill is occurring throughout Europe viral disease of mammals and birds, which is caused by the louping -ill virus of the family Flaviviridae. It belongs to the tick-borne ( tick- borne diseases ) viral encephalitis. Sheep are most commonly affected, the disease is referred to here as a spring disease. In contrast to the related tick-borne encephalitis ( TBE ) louping -ill occur in humans are rare, it is still classified as a zoonosis.

Pathogens and occurrence

The louping -ill virus ( LIV) belongs to the genus Flavivirus. It is classified here in the group of tick-borne encephalitis viruses. The virus is resistant to cold, but is rapidly inactivated by heat treatment.

Receptive are mainly sheep. Rarely, the disease occurs in other ruminants, dogs, rodents, lagomorphs, hedgehogs, bats, grouse and man.

The pathogen occurs mainly in the British Isles, Finland, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, France and Eastern Europe. Transmission is by the wood tick, which also serves as a reservoir of pathogens. For infections of humans tick bites seem to have only minor importance. Here outweigh contact and droplet infection among persons who work with the pathogen or close contact with infected animals ( Shepherd, veterinarians, butchers ) have. Also, a transmission via milk from infected animals seems possible.

Clinic

The incubation period is 4-7 days.

In sheep central nervous system symptoms such as muscle tremors, ataxia, movement disorders occur ( "Spring disease" ) and later in paralysis, recumbency and coma. The mortality rate is up to 50 %.

In humans, the clinical picture is less dramatic. At a bimodal fever attack is a severe meningoencephalitis, but the prognosis is favorable developed.

The diagnosis must be secured by a serological test.

No specific treatment is not available. There is a vaccine that is not used in Central Europe because of the rather rare occurrence. Also, a preventive vaccination in humans is not appropriate because of the great rarity of the disease.