Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, can cause serious infection of the central nervous system in humans, resulting in potential neurological complications and fatal outcomes. TBEV is primarily transmitted to humans through infected tick bites, and the viral agent circulates between ticks and animals, such as deer and small mammals. The occurrence of the infection aligns with the seasonal activity of ticks. As no specific antiviral therapy exists for TBEV infection, treatment approaches primarily focus on symptomatic relief and support. Active immunization is highly effective, especially for individuals in endemic areas. The burden of TBEV infections is increasing, posing a growing health concern. Reported incidence rates rose from 0.4 to 0.9 cases per 100,000 people between 2015 and 2020. The Baltic and Central European countries have the highest incidence, but TBE is endemic across a wide geographic area. Various factors, including social and environmental aspects, improved medical awareness, and advanced diagnostics, have contributed to the observed increase. Diagnosing TBEV infection can be challenging due to the non-specific nature of the initial symptoms and potential co-infections. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate management, prevention of complications, and effective control measures. In this comprehensive review, we summarize the molecular structure of TBEV, its transmission and circulation in natural environments, the pathogenesis of TBEV infection, the epidemiology and global distribution of the virus, associated risk factors, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic approaches. By improving understanding of these aspects, we aim to enhance knowledge and promote strategies for timely and accurate diagnosis, appropriate management, and the implementation of effective control measures against TBEV infections.

This study aimed to assess microplastics (MPs) in the digestive glands of Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels. Mussels were collected from pristine, aquaculture, and port areas of the northern Adriatic Sea (Slovenia and Croatia coastline). MPs were detected using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The characterized MPs were further categorized based on their shape, size, and color. The highest number of 32.85 ± 27.98 MPs per mussel digestive gland was found in the mussels sampled from the ACI marina Rovinj (Croatia). The predominant MPs found in the mussel digestive glands at all investigated locations belonged to the smallest analyzed category (5–10 μm in size) and exhibited spherical and fragment shapes. The most abundant MPs found in mussels by color were white particles. MPs were found in both wild and farmed mussels and, hence, the results point out that the abundance of microplastic pollution is omnipresent along the coastal waters of the northern Adriatic Sea.

Presence of mollusk assemblages was studied within red coralligenous algae Corallina officinalis L. along the southern Istrian coast. C. officinalis turfs can be considered a biodiversity reservoir, as they shelter numerous invertebrate species. The aim of this study was to identify mollusk species within these settlements using DNA barcoding as a method for detailed identification of mollusks. Nine locations and 18 localities with algal coverage range above 90% were chosen at four research areas. From 54 collected samples of C. officinalis turfs, a total of 46 mollusk species were identified. Molecular methods helped identify 16 gastropod, 14 bivalve and one polyplacophoran species. COI sequences for two bivalve species (Musculus cf. costulatus (Risso, 1826) and Gregariella semigranata (Reeve, 1858)) and seven gastropod species (Megastomia winfriedi Peñas & Rolán, 1999, Eatonina sp. Thiele, 1912, Eatonina cossurae (Calcara, 1841), Crisilla cf. maculata (Monterosato, 1869), Alvania cf. carinata (da Costa, 1778), Vitreolina antiflexa (Monterosato, 1884) and Odostomia plicata (Montagu, 1803)) represent new BINs in BOLD database. This study contributes to new findings related to the high biodiversity of mollusks associated with widespread C. officinalis settlements along the southern coastal area of Istria.

Available research on invertebrates in Corallina officinalis settlements shows a high level of biodiversity due to a complex habitat structure. Our aim was to examine seasonal changes in the invertebrate population, considering the algae’s growth patterns. Nine locations with over 90% algal coverage were selected in southern Istria, where quantitative sampling was performed using six replicates of 5 × 5 cm quadrats in each location. Results showed that 29,711 invertebrates were found during winter (maximum algae growth) and 22,292 during summer (minimum algae growth), with an extrapolated average density of 220,000 and 165,200 individuals per square meter, respectively. The total number of individuals showed a linear increase as the algae biomass increased. The highest density, 586,000 individuals, was recorded in the Premantura area during winter. Dominant groups such as amphipods, polychaetes, bivalves and gastropods made up over 80% of the invertebrates. Our study confirms high invertebrate richness in the C. officinalis settlements, with the maximum density being the highest when compared to previously published data.