Identification of Chlamydia trachomatis with polymerase chain reaction in middle ear fluid in otitis media with effusion.

In this study, 78 middle ear aspiration samples from 59 children between the ages of 2 14 who have undergone myringotomy under general anesthesia were included. The presence of DNA genome of Chlamydia trachomatis was analyzed with polymerase chain reaction in the aspiration material. The relationship between the nature of the effusion fluid and the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis was investigated. Of the seventy eight middle ear effusions, 26 (33.3%) were serous, 31 were (39.7%) mucoid and 21 (26.9%) were sero mucoid in nature. Chlamydia trachomatis DNA genome was identified in seven (8.9%) effusion samples. Of these, three were mucoid (42.8%), three were serous (42.8%) and one was sero mucoid (14.2%) in character. We think that during the bacteriological analyses carried out for the cases of otitis media with effusion, Chlamydia trachomatis should be taken into consideration both at the time of diagnosis and the treatment.

The frequency of Toxocara infection in mental retarded children

Human toxocariasis is commonly seen in places where stray and Toxocara canis-infected dog population is high. There is a strong correlation between frequency of Toxocara infection, life style, and infection risk. Institutionalization of mental retarded patients increases to risk of toxocariasis. In this study, we aimed at investigating the frequency of Toxocara infection among children with mental retardation not requiring institutionalization. The study included 96 cases, who had educatable mental retardation and 85 healthy subjects who comprised the control group. Anti-Toxocara IgG or IgM antibodies were investigated in all serum samples, using ELISA method. The frequency of Toxocara infection was found significantly higher in mental retarded cases than in those in the control group (18.8 percent and 7.1 percent respectively) (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between mental retarded children and the control group in terms of mean age, age groups, gender, owning dogs and cats and duration of their ownership, socio-economic level and behavioural factors, and personal hygiene (p > 0.05). We did not find any significant difference between Toxocara seropositive and seronegative mental retarded children in terms of demographic factors and epidemiological factors that could increase the risk of Toxocara infection (p > 0.05). The present study is the first seroprevalence study carried out with a mental retarded group not requiring institutionalization. Determination of high frequency of Toxocara infection suggests that these subjects constitute a risk factor for Toxocara infection, which may be attributed to their behavioural patterns.

Seropositivity of Epstein-Barr virus in Eastern Anatolian Region of Turkey.

In the present study, we have investigated the seropositivity of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the epidemiological factors affecting this seropositivity. A total of 540 subjects living in central Elazig Province and its surroundings were enrolled in the study. IgG antibodies against capsid antigen of EBV (anti-VCA IgG) were determined by ELISA. Seropositivity was found to be 99.4%. There was a significant relationship between increased anti-VCA IgG levels and age, living in crowded families, exposure in public places and low income (p < 0.05). However, no significant alterations in serum anti-VCA IgG antibody were observed in terms of gender, blood transfusion and educational status (p > 0.05). In conclusion, we have demonstrated the commonly presence of EBV Infections in the public and contamination with the infection at early stages of life in the Elazig region. An overpopulated family environment, low income status and living in shared accommodation facilities play important roles in acquiring EBV infection.