− | This is a viral disease affecting sheep, grouse, hares, deer, elk, small rodents, ticks and humans; therefore the disease is zoonotic. The reservoir host for this disease is hard ticks (''[[Ixodes ricinus]]'') and this is transmitted to the host by saliva when the tick bites. Therefore, spread mirrors seasonal tick activity. | + | This is a viral disease affecting sheep, grouse, hares, deer, elk, small rodents, ticks and humans; therefore the disease is zoonotic. The reservoir host for this disease is hard ticks (''[[Ixodes spp.|Ixodes ricinus]]'') and this is transmitted to the host by saliva when the tick bites. Therefore, spread mirrors seasonal tick activity. |
| The virus replicates in [[macrophages]] causing pyrexia and then recovery. The second phase of the virus replication occurs in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum and motor nuclei of the brain stem. | | The virus replicates in [[macrophages]] causing pyrexia and then recovery. The second phase of the virus replication occurs in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum and motor nuclei of the brain stem. |