Histological Changes in Rat Organs Due to Long-Lasting Borrelia afzelii Infection

The most common vectors of etiological factors tick-borne diseases (TBD) are ticks of the genus Ixodes . From an epidemiological point of view, animals play a very important role in the territorial expansion of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), which cause borreliosis - a multisystem disease with varying symptomatology. The B. afzelii impact on human organism is mainly associated with skin lessions like multiple erythema migrans and in late stage of borreliosis: lymphocytoma cutis and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans. The aim of this study was to demonstrated the histological changes and non-specific effects of borreliosis in rat skin, kidney and liver which were caused by B. afzelii infection. The analyzed material was collected from 20 male of Wistar rats infected with B. afzelii . Six months after inoculation the tissues was collected and prepared for structural observation. The skin lesions in rats were visible and manifested spot baldness. The histological analyses demonstrated mainly structure looseness and local degenerative changes of connective tissue. Similar changes were observed in the subcutaneous tissue. The spaces filled amorphous matrix were visible around the blood vessels. Significant changes in liver were noted in the perisinusoidal space, which was enlarged in some areas. The fibrous deposits were visible in these areas. The damage of the epithelial cells in renal tubules appeared in the rat kidneys. In some glomeruli was observed increase of mesangial substance amount. B. afzelii infection caused considerable lesions mainly in rat skin and subcutaneous tissue. The changes in rat liver and kidneys were subtle.