Maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree created based on partial E gene sequences of TBEV using the Kimura 2-parameter model and bootstrap analysis of 1000 replicates (bootstrap values < 50% not shown).

Sample ID or GenBank accession numbers are indicated for each sequence, with the original isolation source, location (if known) and country code. Sequences obtained from TBEV RNA-positive tick and rodent samples from six counties in Lithuania in 2017–2019 are marked as follows: obtained from ● Ixodes ricinus, ■ Dermacentor reticulatus, ▲ Apodemus flavicollis. ○ obtained in Lithuania from human samples in 1999 (Mickiené et al. [14]) and from ticks (Katargina et al. [18]). The scale indicates the number of nucleotide substitutions per site.