TOMSK, Aug 7 – RIA Tomsk. Scientists of Chemical Faculty of Tomsk State University (TSU) developed the technique of the atomic and issue spectral analysis of pincers allowing to estimate probability of their infection, in particular borreliosis and Lyme disease, according to contents of toxic chemical elements, the press service of the university reports on Tuesday.
It is specified that earlier scientists from St. Petersburg found that pollution of soils with heavy metals influences biology and morphology of pincers, reduces their immunity and, as a result, increases susceptibility to pathogenic agents, such as borreliosis, Lyme disease and others. Pincers' exoskeleton is damaged where calcium is replaced with heavy metals. As a result arthropods serve as carriers of infection more often.
"Chemists of TSU found more exact way of assessment of impurity of pincers with heavy metals. They developed the first technique of the spectral analysis of individuals for establishment of their element status allowing to estimate a possibility of decrease in immunity of arthropods to pathogenic agents", – it is said in the statement.
Pincers samples in the different districts of Tomsk were collected for studying of influence of heavy metals on contamination and a condition of exoskeleton of pincers. It was established that "dirty" pincers have significantly higher concentration of heavy metals – by 4 times on chrome, 2,5 times on manganese, by 3 times on nickel and twice on titan. Violation of exoskeleton is found at the pincers selected within the city, in particular near transport hubs."The new technology allows to obtain additional information for assessment of decrease in immunity of ixodic pincers to pathogenic agents. We plan to use this method when studying tension of the centers of pincer-borne infections, both within a city, and beyond its limits", – the press service quotes the Head of Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecology of TSU Nina Moskvitina.