A deletion in the chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) gene is associated with tickborne encephalitis

Tickborne encephalitis (TBE) virus infections can be asymptomatic or cause moderate to severe injuries of the central nervous system. Why some individuals develop severe disease is unknown, but a role for host genetic factors has been suggested. To investigate whether chemokine receptor CCR5 is associated with TBE, CCR5 Delta 32 genotyping was performed among Lithuanian patients with TBE (n = 129) or with aseptic meningoencephalitis (n = 76) as well as among control subjects (n = 134). We found individuals homozygous for CCR5 Delta 32 (P = .026) only among patients with TBE and a higher allele prevalence among patients with TBE compared with the other groups studied. CCR5 Delta 32 allele prevalence also increased with the clinical severity of disease.