ULTRAMICROSCOPIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ERYTHROCYTES IN INDIVIDUALS WITH BORRELIOSIS, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND TOXOPLASMOSIS AS A MARKER, COMORBID OR CONCOMITANT PATHOLOGY FOR BABESIOSIS

Abstract

The aim is to determine the ultramicroscopic characteristics of erythrocytes in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, borreliosis or toxoplasmosis as a marker, comorbid or concomitant pathology for babesiosis. Materials and methods: Blood samples from the patients with revealed borreliosis (Lyme disease) (19 cases), toxoplasmosis (15 cases), rheumatoid arthritis in the stage ofexacerbation (10 cases) served as the study material (group 2). In all patients of group 2, positive results for babesiosis were obtained during the polymerase chain reaction. The group of comparative control (group 1) consisted of clinically healthy people (n=31), who underwent the blood cytological examination (light microscopy) preceding the scanning electron microscopy, followed by verification of the results by resources of molecular genetic research (polymerase chain reaction). Scanning electron microscopy was used in this study. Results: In patients with babesiosis and marker, comorbid and concomitant conditions for this disease (rheumatoid arthritis, borreliosis, toxoplasmosis) it was identified the specific diagnostic criteria for the presence of extraerythrocyte forms of babesia, constant number of erythrocytes and their regenerative forms, the appearance of degenerative forms of erythrocytes with their size and shape pathology. The latter lead to hemodynamic disorders, the development of ischemic and hypoxic changes in tissues of different organs of human body. Conclusions: Scanning electron microscopy of erythrocytes in patients with babesiosis and marker, comorbid and concomitant conditions for this disease (rheumatoid arthritis, borreliosis, toxoplasmosis) plays the role of an objective method of verifying the results of previous clinical and laboratory diagnosis. The use of scanning electron microscopy allow us to determine in these patients the specific diagnostic criteria for the presence of extraerythrocyte forms of babesia, constant number of erythrocytes and their regenerative forms, degenerative forms of erythrocytes with their size and shape pathology.