Yalta: the laboratory of the MMC FMBA of Russia conducts research on ticks for the presence of infectious agents

Tick-transmitted infections (TCI) are a group of natural focal diseases, the causative agents of which are transmitted to humans through the bite of a tick.

The main reservoir of IPC pathogens in nature are ticks of the family Ixodidae (ixodid ticks). On the territory of Russia, there are about 60 species of ixodid ticks, a number of which are carriers of microorganisms pathogenic to humans. Among them, the most epidemiologically significant are Ixodes persulcatus (taiga tick) and Ixodes ricinus (European forest or dog tick).

It is important to remember that ticks are carriers of various infectious diseases: tick-borne encephalitis, borreliosis, rickettsiosis, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Crimean hemorrhagic fever, Q fever, tick-borne relapsing fever and tularemia.

The tick can be removed at the traumatological center of the YMMC FMBV of Russia. If it is not possible to go to a medical facility for help, you need to remove the tick yourself.

The extracted tick must be kept as intact as possible, preferably alive. It is necessary to place the tick in a tightly closed container with a piece of damp cloth or cotton wool and deliver it to the laboratory for testing for the presence of pathogens of various diseases. It is recommended to store the tick in the refrigerator before sending it to the laboratory.

Patients can submit a tick for analysis at any registry office of the YMMTC FMBA of Russia during business hours, as well as at the Livadia Hospital around the clock.

In the laboratory of the YMMC FMBA of Russia you can examine ticks for pathogens of tick-borne viral encephalitis, borreliosis (Lyme disease), anaplasmosis and two types of ehrlichiosis. Based on the test results, specific prevention will be proposed according to the identified pathogens.

We remind you that it is possible to determine whether a particular tick is a carrier of infectious diseases only by examining it in a laboratory setting. For this purpose, a highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction method is used, with the help of which infectious agents are detected.