Current State of the Natural Focus of Ixodidae Tick-Borne Borreliosis on the Territory of the Azov Lowland

Ixodidae tick-borne borreliosis (ITBB) is the most common transmissible disease in the Northern Hemisphere. The study of the features of the biocenotic structure and functioning of natural foci of ITBB in the steppe and dry steppe zones is of particular interest. The territory of the Azov Lowland is a plain with a steppe type of landscape. In 2023–2024, on most of that area, employees of the Rostov-on-Don Anti-Plague Institute of the Rospotrebnadzor conducted epizootiological monitoring of natural focal infectious diseases, including ITBB. The aim of the work was to study the state and structure of the natural focus of ITBB in the steppe zone of the Azov Lowland. Materials and methods . The work used the results of the epizootiological survey. The study was carried out using epidemiological, zoological, genetic diagnostic and statistical methods. Results and discussion . It has been established that the main carriers of borreliosis pathogens in the ITBB natural focus of the Azov Lowland are small mammals: house mouse, European wood mouse, small wood mouse, yellow-necked mouse, lesser white-toothed shrew and gray hamster. The main carriers are Ixodidae ticks, Ixodes redikorzevi and Ixodes ricinus . This ITBB focus is of anthropourgic nature and stays in an active state. It is characterized by a low level of potential danger of infection of people with borreliosis pathogens.