Diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin, neopterin, and gamma interferon in neonatal calves with septicemic colibacillosis.

The objective of our study was to compare the serum concentrations of procalcitonin (PCT), neopterin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), prostaglandin E2, malondialdehyde, interleukin 8, and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in neonatal calves with septicemic colibacillosis (n = 15) with healthy controls (n = 15). Septicemic colibacillosis was diagnosed based on clinical signs and the isolation of Escherichia coli from heparinized blood in clinically suspected cases. PCT, neopterin, TNF-α (p < 0.05), and IFN-γ concentrations in calves with septicemic colibacillosis were significantly higher than in the healthy controls (p < 0.01). Serum PCT concentrations were ~4 times higher in the calves with septicemic colibacillosis than in the healthy calves, suggesting that PCT could be a useful marker of septicemic colibacillosis in neonatal calves.

The prevalence, isolation and morphotyping of potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae from tap water and environmental water sources in Sivas.

OBJECTIVE: To our knowledge, there is no study dealing with the prevalence of free-living amoebas (FLA) in water sources in Turkey, previous studies were mostly case presentations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of FLA from tap water and natural water sources in different parts of the city. METHODS: In the study, 250 samples were collected from the city centre, districts and villages. Two litres of water was collected from each source and filtered through a vacuum filtration system. The filter papers were washed in "Page's Amoeba Saline (PAS)" solution and incubated overnight. Filter papers were removed from the tubes and centrifuged; the final pellet was inoculated on non-nutrient agar (NNA) plates. The growth rate of FLA was checked after three days of inoculation and the flagellation test was performed to determine the presence of Naegleria spp. Heat tolerance of isolated strains was checked at 37, 42 and 52°C for the presence of pathogenic Acanthamoeba species. The cyst and trophozoite morphology of amoebas were examined under a light microscope and the genera was identified according to morphotyping keys. RESULTS: FLA were found in 75 (30.0%) of examined water samples. Eleven (4.4%) were identified as Acanthamoeba spp., 25 (10.0%) as Naegleria spp. and 39 (15.6%) as Hartmannella spp. after microscopic examination. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that FLA are common inhabitants of household water as they are in the environment, so their own potential risks as well as transferring bacteria as other pathogens is important for human health.

[Seroprevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) among the residents of rural areas in Sinop, central Black-Sea region, Turkey]. / Sinop'ta kirsal kesimde yasayan kisilerde kene kaynakli ensefalit virusu (TBEV) seroprevalansi

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is one of the serious neurological infections seen especially in the Asian and North European countries. The principal vectors of TBEV are hard ticks belonging to Ixodes genus. The major vector of European TBEV subtype is I.ricinus and the major vector of Far-Eastern and Siberian subtypes is I.persulcatus. I.ricinus exists in many climatic regions of Turkey, especially in the coastal areas. The aim of this study was to investigate the TBEV seroprevalence among the residents of rural areas in Sinop (a province located at the coast of Central Black-Sea region of Turkey). A total of 273 blood samples have been collected from the subjects (age range: 11-83 years) inhabiting in 12 villages of the central district of Sinop, during the months of May and June in 2006 and 2007. The presence of TBEV IgG antibodies in serum samples were searched by a commercial indirect fluorescent antibody kit (Euroimmun, Deutschland). TBEV IgG positivity was detected in 2.9% (8/273) of the subjects at a screening titer (1/10) and 7 (2.6%) of them also yielded positive results at further dilutions (1/100). The rates of TBEV seropositivity were not found statistically significant (p > 0.05), with respect to gender (141 of the subjects were male), age (142 of the subjects were between 21-50 years old), occupation (17 foresters, 57 were shepherds, 199 were farmers/stockbreeders) and history of tick bite (169 of the subjects had been bitten by ticks). Presence of IgG antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi, another agent which is transmitted by the same vector, were also investigated in TBEV seropositive 8 subjects by a commercial ELISA kit (Zeus Scientific, The Netherlands). Four of these subjects yielded B.burgdorferi IgG positivity, so the TBEV - B.burgdorferi coinfection rate was estimated as 1.5% (4/273). However, since the results obtained by the tests used in this study (TBEV IgG IFA and B.burgdorferi IgG ELISA) have not been confirmed by additional confirmational tests, these subjects were referred as "probable cases". In recent years the detection rates of vector-borne viral infections is in an increment trend in Turkey due to the developments in diagnostic tests and awareness for emerging infections. In conclusion since Sinop, which is placed in the northernmost point of Turkey, is located close to TBEV endemic areas, the presence of TBEV in Sinop and the Black Sea region should always be considered.

In vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antispasmodic activities and the composition of the essential oil of Origanum acutidens (Hand.-Mazz.) Ietswaart.

The radical scavenging, antimicrobial, and antispasmodic activities and the composition of Origanum acutidens (Hand.-Mazz.) Ietswaart (Order Labiatte) essential oil were evaluated in vitro. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of the oil resulted in the identification of 20 compounds, representing 93.61% of the oil; carvacrol (65%) was the main component. The sample was also subjected to a screening for antioxidant activity by using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and beta-carotene/linoleic acid assays. The essential oil exhibited strong antioxidant activity. Using the agar disk diffusion method, antimicrobial activities of the essential oils were determined for nine microorganisms; antimicrobial activity was shown against eight of them. O. acutidens oil exhibited spontaneous contractions in rat ileum at the 100% level at 0.1 mg/mL level.

In vitro amoebicidal activity of Salvia staminea and Salvia caespitosa on Acanthamoeba castellanii and their cytotoxic potentials on corneal cells.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Amoebic keratitis is difficult to treat with total efficacy in some patients because of cysts, which are less susceptible than trophozoites to the usual treatments. We investigated the in vitro effectiveness of methanolic extract of Salvia staminea and Salvia caespitosa against Acanthamoeba castellanii, as well as their cytotoxicity on corneal cells in vitro. METHODS: Extracts were evaluated for their amoebicidal activities using an inverted light microscope. The effect of Savia species, with concentrations ranging between 1.0 and 32.0 mg/mL, on the proliferation of A. castellanii trophozoites and cysts were examined in vitro. For determining the cytotoxicity of Salvia species on corneal cells, agar diffusion tests were performed. RESULTS: According to the results obtained from these tests, S. staminea showed remarkable amoebicidal effect on A. castellanii. In the case of the cytotoxic activity, methanolic extract of S. staminea showed no cytotoxicity on corneal cells with a concentration of 16 mg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Methanolic extract of S. staminea could be considered a new natural agent against Acanthamoeba. However, further evaluation by in vivo testing is needed to confirm the efficiency of its biological effect.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses, HIV, and syphilis infections among engaged couples.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate seroprevalences of hepatitis B and C viruses, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis infections among engaged couples. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of all engaged couples enrolled at 20 Health Centers and one Maternity Center of Sivas Health Directorate between May and September 2005 in Sivas, a central Anatolian city, in Turkey. Seroprevalances of hepatitis B (HB) surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV), anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV), and syphilis was assessed. Serum samples of 1,332 participants of 666 couples were investigated. RESULTS: Age range of subjects was 15-74, and most (38.4%) were between 25-29 years. Out of 1,332 individuals, 22 (1.7%) were HBsAg positive, 18 (1.4%) were anti-HBs positive, one (0.1%) was anti-HCV positive, one (0.1%) was HIV positive, and one (0.1%) was syphilis positive. There was no statistical differences between their seroprevalence positivities regarding gender and age groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In our country, couples should obtain a marriage certificate that includes a health report that contains the tests mentioned above. We think that this is a very good screening model for important infections. In couples all around the world, screening of these infections needs to be performed before marriage to be aware of the risks.

Antimicrobial activity of some water plants from the northeastern Anatolian region of Turkey.

The antimicrobial activity of methanol and acetone extracts of Butomus umbellatus, Polygonum amphibium, and two species of the genus Sparganium (S. erectum and S. emersum)against three Gram-positive, five Gram-negative bacteria and one fungus was assessed by the disk diffusion method. The microorganisms used were Staphylococcus aureusATCC-29740, Escherichia coli ATCC-25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC-15442, Salmonella typhi NCTC-9394, Klebsiella pneumoniae NCTC-5046, Proteus vulgaris ATCC-7829, Bacillus subtilis ATCC-6633, Corynebacterium diphteriae RSHM-633 and Candida albicans ATCC-10231. Methanol extracts of the plants did not exhibit any inhibitory activity against any of the microorganisms, while the acetone extracts of the all tested plants only showed significant activity against Bacillus subtilis, with inhibition zones and minimal inhibitory concentration values in the 7-16 mm and 0.49-12.50 mg/mL ranges, respectively.

[The investigation of intestinal parasites in two primary schools in different social-economic districts of the city of Yozgat, Turkey]. / Yozgat Il Merkezinde Farkli Sosyo-Ekonomik Bölgelerdeki Iki Ilkögretim Okulunda Bagirsak Parazitlerinin Arastirilmasi.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of intestinal parasites among children in two primary schools in different social-economic districts in the central region of Yozgat and to educate the children about parasitic diseases. During the study, cellophane tape preparations and stool samples that had been prepared using direct mounting methods were examined. In addition the students were informed about intestinal parasites. Parasitic infection was observed in 128 (34.9%) out of 367 students and the highest rate of 16.1% was that of Entamoeba coli. The rate of Giardia intestinalis, Enterobius vermicularis, Hymenolepis nana, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Taenia saginata, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura were found to be 15.5%, 8.4%, 2.2%, 1.6%, 1.6%, 1.6% and 0.5%, respectively. In cases with parasitosis, one species of parasite was found in 68.0%, 2 species in 27.3% and 3 species in 4.7%. Thus, intestinal parasites are important among primary school children in Yozgat and it seems that there is a relationship between socio-economic conditions and the rate of intestinal parasites.

[Distribution of intestinal parasites in patients presenting at the environmental-food and medicine analysis laboratory of Sivas municipality during the years 1993-2006]. / Sivas Belediyesi Cevre-Gida ve Tibbi Tahlil Laboratuvarina 1993-2006 Yillarinda Basvuran Hastalarda Bagirsak Parazit Dagilimlarinin Incelenmesi.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate retrospectively the distribution and prevalence of intestinal parasites in patients who presented at the environmental-food and medicine analysis laboratory of the Sivas municipality, Sivas, from January 1993-December 2006. A total of 732 stool specimens were examined for intestinal parasites using native-Lugol and formol ethyl ether methods. Also, 186 cellophane tape preparations were examined directly. Out of a total of 918 total specimens, intestinal parasites were found in 85 (9.3%) females and 178 (19.4%) males. Parasites were found in 188 (25.7%) of the stool specimens, coming from 54 (7.4%) females and 134 (18.3%) males. Of the 75 positive cellophane tape specimens, 31 (16.7%) were females and 44 (23.7%), male. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was evaluated according to years, sex and ages in which cases were seen. The distribution of intestinal parasites detected in stool specimens was as follows: 101 (13.8%) Entamoeba coli, 27 (3.7%) Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, 91 (12.4%) Giardia intestinalis, 30 (4.1%) Taenia saginata, 13 (1.8%) Hymenolepis nana, 7 (1%) Ascaris lumbricoides, 2 (0.3%) Trichuris trichiura and 1 (0.1%) Dicrocoelium dentriticum. Parasites detected in cellophane tape specimens included 64 (34.4%) Enterobius vermicularis and 11 (5.9%) Taenia saginata.

[Short communication: investigation of Brucella in the fresh cheese samples sold at the bazaars of district in Sivas Center, Turkey]. / Kisa bildiri: sivas il merkezindeki semt pazarlarinda satilan taze peynirlerin Brucella yönünden arastirilmasi.

Brucellosis is an important zoonosis throughout the world. Infection is transmitted by the consumption of non-boiled or non-pasteurized milk and milk products such as cheese, cream and butter. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Brucella spp. in the fresh cheese samples which were sold at bazaars of district in Sivas center during April, May and June of the years 2003 and 2004. In 3 (7.1%) of 42 cheese samples collected in 2003 and 4 (8.5%) of 47 samples collected in 2004, Brucella spp. were found to be positive. Consequently, since the fresh cheese samples are the most important routes of Brucella transmission, the risk for public health should be well considered.

Egg positive rate of Enterobius vermicularis and Taenia spp. by cellophane tape method in primary school children in Sivas, Turkey.

The aim of the present study was to find out the number of students with enterobiasis and/or taeniasis in primary schools of Sivas. Among the 2,029 students in 6 primary schools, 316 (15.6%) were positive to Enterobius vermicularis eggs and 32 (1.6%) were positive to Taenia spp. eggs by the cellophane tape method. The egg positive rates of E. vermicularis and Taenia spp. ranged from 9.4% to 27.2% and from 0.8% to 2.6% respectively among six schools. The egg positive rate of E. vermicularis was found to be significantly different among these schools (chi2 = 31.96, P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference between the schools for Taenia spp. (chi2 = 4.37; P > 0.05). The rate (18.7%) of E. vermicularis in the urban slum regions was higher than the rate (11.5%) in the urban central regions (chi2 = 19.20; P < 0.05). Above results demonstrate that the egg positive rate of E. vermicularis and Taenia spp. was still prevalent among primary school children.

[Investigation of vectors for Borrelia burgdorferi and Lyme seropositivity in Sivas region]. / Sivas yöresinde Borrelia burgdorferi vektörlerinin ve lyme seropozitifliginin arastirilmasi.

The aims of this study were to investigate the presence of vector ticks for Borrelia burgdorferi and to determine the seropositivity of lyme disease in Sivas region of Middle Anatolia. A total of 10,303 ticks were collected and classified at genus level, however, none of them belonged to Ixodes genus, the vector of B. burgdorferi. For the seroepidemiological study, serum samples were collected from 270 subjects who inhabited in rural area and raised livestock, and from 135 subjects as the control group who inhabited in urban area and have no livestock story. The samples were screened for the presence of B. burgdorferi IgG antibodies with a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit (ImmunoWell Borrelia, Genbio, San Diego). As a result, one subject in the each group (0.4% and 0.7%, respectively) yielded positive result, however as these sera gave positive reaction in rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test, these were evaluated as cross-reactivity (false positivity). These results indicated that lyme disease is not endemic in our region since neither Ixodes genus ticks nor seropositive subjects were detected.

[Immunopathogenesis of Legionnaires' disease]. / Lejyoner hastaliginda immünopatogenez.

Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, is a facultative intracellular pathogen of alveolar macrophages, alveolar epithelial cells and, blood monocytes. Infection begins with the inhalation of the L.pneumophila. Once the bacteria reach to alveolar spaces, they come in contact with the alveolar macrophages, phagocyted and the macrophage takes the bacteria into a phagosome. Inside the cell, Legionella inhibits the lysosome-phagosome fusion, resulting in multiplication and lysis of the cell. The newly formed bacteria infect the other cells. In-vitro studies have shown that the presence of antibody and complement do not enhance intracellular killing. Cellular immunity is more important than humoral immunity for resolution of Legionella infections. In this review article, immunopathogenesis of Legionella infections have been discussed under the light of literature.

Seroprevalence of Brucella in an elderly population in mid-Anatolia, Turkey.

Brucellosis is a widespread infectious disease in the mid-Anatolia regions of Turkey. This study investigated the prevalence of Brucella infection in elderly people of this region. In total, 750 elderly subjects were chosen by a simple random-sampling method. Blood samples were evaluated by the Brucella Wright agglutination test. Brucella seropositivity was detected in 24 (3.2%) of the 750 subjects. Although there was no statistical correlation between Brucella seropositivity and sex or educational level (p > 0.05), seropositivity was statistically significant with subjects exposed to risk factors (p < 0.001). It is concluded that Brucella infection is still an important public-health problem in the cities of mid-Anatolia.

[Legionella pneumophila in thermal pools of hot springs in the central Anatolian district]. / Iç anadolu bölgesinde bulunan kaplicalarin termal havuz sularinda Legionella pneumophila arastirmasi.

Microbiological contamination of hot spring waters is a public health problem, and hot spring waters have been thought to be a potential source of Legionella infections. In this study, 209 water samples collected from 69 thermal pools of 36 hot springs in the Central Anatolia Region were examined for the presence of Legionella spp. between September and November 2001. The water samples were concentrated via filtration, and the filtrates were decontaminated by low-pH method. Then the samples were cultured on non-selective (Buffered Charcoal Yeast Extract Agar, BCYE) and selective (GVPC; BCYE supplemented with glycine, vancomycin, polymyxin B, cycloheximide, and MWY; BCYE supplemented with glycine, anisomycin, polymyxin B, vancomycin, bromthymol blue, bromcresole purple) media, and suspected colonies were confirmed by Legionella Latex Kit (Oxoid) and direct fluorescent antibody test. As a result, 24 out of 209 (11.5%) water samples were found positive for Legionella pneumophila, and a total 26 L. pneumophila strains were isolated from these 24 samples. Two of these isolates were found reactive with serogroup 1, 20 were reactive with serogroup 2-14 antisera in agglutination test, while 2 samples collected from the same thermal pool, have yielded 2 strains, of which one was serogroup 1 and the other was serogroup 2-14. L. pneumophila was detected in 22.2% of hot springs (8 of 36) and 14.5% of thermal pools (10 of 69). L. pneumophila concentrations which were detected in water samples ranged from 10 to 430 CFU/100 ml. This is the first data for the prevalence of Legionnaires' disease agent in hot spring spas in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. Colonization of bacterium in some spas indicates that the certain hot springs might be endemic focuses for Legionnaires' disease in our country.