Objective: The aim is to identify the ultramicroscopic features of the erythrocytes as a component of the babesiosis pathogenesis using scanning electronic microscopy.
Patients and methods: Materials and methods: Blood samples from 18 domestic dogs with clinically, microscopically, molecularly and genetically confirmed babesiosis served as the study material. The group of comparative control consisted of clinically healthy people (n=31) and domestic dogs (n=6). The method of scanning electron microscopy was used to study the spatial (three-dimensional coordinate system: the plane formed by the axes OX; OY; OZ) pathology of the size and shape of erythrocytes, microrelief of blood cells surfaces, membranopathies (raptures, macromolecules, conglomerates, micropores). The native peripheral blood smears of various origins were performed in accordance with the generally accepted method without fixation, staining/contrast. For this purpose, 0.01 ml of native blood was applied to the degreased surface of the metal platform (S=1 cm2), dried in the air of the laboratory premise, analyzed (× 2000), using the resources of the equipment (SEO-SEM Inspect S50-B; energy dispersive spectrometer AZtecOne with detector X-MaxN20 (Oxford Instruments plc, UC) and power source in the gun: tungsten cathode with thermoelectron emission. This scanning electron microscope made it possible to examine the object under conditions of accelerating voltage of 100 kV. The analysis of the obtained results was performed in comparison.
Results: Results: Under conditions of babesiosis development, the erythrocyte link of hematopoiesis responded by the reduction of the number of normocytes (99.0 % in clinically healthy people and domestic dogs, 77.3 % in dogs with babesiosis), increased of the number of regenerative forms of erythrocytes (1% in clinically healthy people and domestic dogs, 1,5 % in dogs with babesiosis), appearanced of degenerative forms of erythrocytes with characteristic pathology of cell size and shape, membranopathies (damage of the integrity of the membrane with the formation of defects).
Conclusion: Conclusions: Changes of the ultramicroscopic erythrocytes profile is one of the leading component of the babesiosis pathogenesis. The use of scanning electronic microscopy helps to obtain ultramicroscopic data on the presence of extraerythrocytic forms of Babesia on the background of the impossibility of diagnosis of anisochromia with detailing of inclusions in erythrocytes.
Keywords: babesiosis; erythrocytes; pathogenesis; scanning electronic microscopy.