Tick-borne borreliosis is caused by spirochetes and is transmitted by ticks. This infectious disease is characterized by a chronic course. Often affected skin, musculoskeletal system, nervous system and heart. Tick-borne borreliosis was first registered in the USA (Lyme), therefore the disease is sometimes called Lyme disease.
Tick-borne borreliosis: etiology.
The disease is caused by spirochetes belonging to the genus Borrelia. An intermediate host are ixodid ticks. The reservoir of borreliosis are wild animals and rodents. Quite often, mixed infection with tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis occurs.
Tick-borne borreliosis: symptoms.
The disease is registered on all continents except Antarctica. Endemic zones of Russia include the Leningrad, Kaliningrad, Tyumen, Yaroslavl, Perm, Tver, Kostroma regions, as well as the Far Eastern, Ural and West Siberian regions. It should be recalled that in the Leningrad Region tick-borne borreliosis is transmitted by taiga and European forest ticks. Vector contamination can range from 5 to 90%. The incubation period of the disease is approximately 14 days. An early clinical sign of the disease is redness (hyperemia) of the skin at the site of the bite by an ixodid tick. Hyperemia of the skin is intensified, a reddened spot can be up to 10 centimeters in diameter. Cases have been recorded when this spot reached 60 cm or more. Over time, the center of the spot fades and acquires a bluish (cyanotic) hue, a ring shape forms. In the place of the bite, a crust forms, and then a scar. This stain persists for 14–20 days, after which it disappears. 30-45 days after the bite, clinical symptoms of damage to the internal organs are observed.
Tick-borne borreliosis: pathogenesis.
When bitten by an infected tick, infection with borreliosis occurs. Borrelia with saliva enters the skin, after which they multiply intensively for several days, infect other parts of the dermis and internal organs (liver, heart, joints, brain). The causative agent for a long time can be localized in the human body causing a chronic course of the disease.
Tick-borne borreliosis: diagnosis.
To confirm the diagnosis (Lyme disease) , a blood test is necessary. Diagnosis and treatment of the disease is complicated by the fact that when collecting anamnestic data, the patient does not indicate the fact of a bite. Therefore, the patient does not receive appropriate treatment, which can lead to disability. Serological studies are performed using an enzyme immunoassay. With neurological manifestations, cerebrospinal fluid is also examined.
Tick-borne borreliosis: treatment.
For the treatment of borreliosis, etiotropic and pathogenetic therapy is prescribed. At the initial stages of the development of the disease, antibiotic therapy is prescribed. Intravenous administration of antibiotics (tetracycline series) in maximum doses ensures a sufficient concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid. The use of antibiotics at the initial stage prevents the development of cardiac, arthralgic and neurological complications. With cutaneous manifestation of borreliosis along with tetracycline, doxycycline is prescribed for a month. With lesions of the nervous system, ampicillin, ceftriaxone, cefazolin, roxithromycin, cephalosporin, azithromycin, erythromycin are prescribed. In case of joint damage, a good therapeutic effect is obtained using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (naproxin, chlotazole, indomethacin, plaquinyl), analgesics and physiotherapy.