Tick Bites: The View from Inside-Out

The study examined the histological effects of tick bites on human skin, using various staining methods to analyze specimens with attached ticks. The tick's mouthparts were embedded in a cement cone, affecting the underlying dermis, which showed fibrin networks, blood extravasation, and vasculitis. Post-tick removal, lesions included erythema, granuloma, lymphoid hyperplasia, and alopecia affecting hair follicles. Acute changes were attributed to the tick's "vacuum pump" action and saliva components, while persistent host reactions to these substances or infections led to subacute and chronic lesions.