Zoning of the Rostov Region by the Degree of Potential Hazard of Population Infection with Ixodidae Tick-Borne Borreliosis Pathogens

The aim of the study was to differentiate the territory of the Rostov Region according to the potential risk of infection of the population with pathogens of Ixodidae tick-borne borreliosis (ITBB). Materials and methods . The analysis of the epidemiological situation in 2012–2022 was carried out based on the materials provided by the Federal State Budgetary Health Institution “Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Rostov Region” and the Rospotrebnadzor Administration in the Rostov Region. The basis of epizootiological studies was the data from the ITBB monitoring conducted by the employees of the zoological-parasitological team from the Department of Epidemiology of the “Rostov-on-Don Anti-Plague Institute of the Rospotrebnadzor” in 2015–2022 and provided by the “Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Rostov Region” and the “North-Caucasian Plague Control Station of the Rospotrebnadzor”. Conventional epidemiological, zoological and parasitological, gene diagnostics and analytical research methods were used for the work. Results and discussion . The territorial zoning of the Rostov Region has been carried out on the basis of the score-assessment system of the following factors: the magnitude of the epizootic potential, population density, and morbidity within the boundaries of administrative districts. The Rostov Region is a territory with the persistent natural ITBB focus, which has epizootic and epidemic manifestations. In order to improve epidemiological surveillance on ITBB, the territorial zoning of the region based on the risk-oriented approach has been conducted.