[The ultrastructural characteristics of the histopathological changes at the site of attachment to the host body of larvae of the ixodid tick Ixodes ricinus].

The attachment of ixodid tick Ixodes ricinus larvae to white mice and histopathology of host tissue in the attachment site were investigated by means of electronic microscopy. It was demonstrated the presence of cement substance around the mouthparts of tick during the first and the second days of feeding period and the absence of it at the last day of this period. The cement substance consists only of the cement cone (the external cement), situated on the surface of host epidermis. The tick mouthparts in the host dermis were surrounded by zone of modified collagene fibers. Examination of feeding site showed the intensive neutrophil migration and the formation of feeding cavity in 2 days after attachment of tick. At the same time the erythrocytes and active fibroblasts were found in the feeding cavity.