Etiopathogenetic Assessment of Tick Skin Injuries in Vacationers of Suburban Resorts and Tourists of Ukraine as a Component of a Complex Diagnostic Algorithm of Babesiosis

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study is to improve the complex diagnostic algorithm of babesiosis by etiopathogenetic assessment of tick skin lesions in vacationers of suburban resorts and tourists of Ukraine. Material and Methods: In order to objectify the etiopathogenetic assessment of tick skin lesions in vacationers of suburban resorts and tourists of Ukraine, animals affected by attacks of active stages of Ixodes, to determine their role as a component in a comprehensive diagnostic algorithm of babesiosis, we used a set of epidemic, epizootological, clinical and diagnostic measures. Skin lesions were considered acaroidal only in cases when ticks from the superfamily Ixodoidea of the family Ixodidea of the species Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus (n=34), Dermacentor marginatus and Dermacentor pictus (n=128) were detected on it or on the clothes of the bitten person. Ticks of the species Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes persulcatus, Dermacentor marginatus and Dermacentor pictus were studied and photographed on an Olympus BX-41 microscope (Japan) using a digital camera. The surveyed 64 people of both sexes, aged 17 to 68, belonged to different categories of vacationers or tourists (organized, semi-organized, «savages»). The morphological material (skin with underlying soft tissues) was collected in cases of attacks of Ixodes on pets (dogs), accompanying the owners on vacation, when it was possible. Microspecimens stained with hematoxylin and eosin, picrofuxin according to van Gizon, according to Mallory were studied using an Olympus BX-41 microscope (Japan) with subsequent processing with the Olympus DP-soft version 3.1 software. Results: Climatotherapy is a popular treatment and prevention measure in the coordinate system «doctor-patient». This treatment method is characterized by both positive health effects and negative consequences, among which are the development of such dangerous parasitic disease as babesiosis. Etiopathogenetic assessment of tick skin lesions in vacationers of suburban resorts and tourists of Ukraine is an important component of a comprehensive diagnostic algorithm for babesiosis. Its objectification is based on the effective application of the data informative potential on the cycle and period of development of one generation of carriers (imago), the specifics of active stages (differentiation into three-host mites), habitat characteristics (shrubs, deciduous trees), seasonality (April-June, August-September), climatic zonation (temperate climate of the forest-steppe), their ability to inoculate babesiosis pathogens into the body of warm-blooded vertebrates. Macroscopic and microscopic features of the skin with underlying soft tissues at the sites of fixation and feeding of mites in susceptible to pathogens babesiosis humans and animals depend on the duration of this damaging factor exposure. Conclusions: Etiopathogenetic assessment of tick skin lesions in vacationers of suburban resorts and tourists of Ukraine is of great importance in the diagnosis of babesiosis.