Entomological Survey for Sand Fly Fauna in Imamoglu Province (Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Endemic Region) of Adana, Turkey.

Leishmaniasis, presenting in two clinical forms, cutaneous and visceral in Turkey, is widespread in most of the countries in the Mediterranean Basin. An average of 10 to 13% of cases are reported from Adana every year. This paper presents the results of an entomological survey in an endemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Imamoglu province of Adana in Turkey.We collected 654 sand fly specimen using 100 light traps in 20 nights in August 2013 and July 2014. Several keys and previous drawings were used in the identification of the species. In total, six Phlebotomus species were identified; Phlebotomus tobbi (50.3%), Phlebotomus papatasi (34%), Phlebotomus perfiliewi (2.9%), Phlebotomus sergenti (0.4%), Phlebotomus neglectus/syriacus (0.8%), and Sergentomyia spp. (11.5%). In addition, the female/male rate was found to be 0.84.Collected sand flies (44 pools of 1-10 individuals) were analyzed microscopically, and no promastigotes were found in the midgut specimens. Using a genus specific real time-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for simultaneous detection of Old Word Leishmania. We detected only 3 of the 44 pools with Leishmania by genus-specific real-time PCR assay.P. tobbi was found to be dominant species in spite of the differences in sand fly fauna composition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study for sand fly fauna including 15 villages where endemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Imamoglu, Adana Province, Turkey.

Inheritance of a Chromosome 3 and 21 Translocation in the Fetuses, with One also Having Trisomy 21, in Three Pregnancies in One Family.

The majority of chromosome rearrangements are balanced reciprocal and Robertsonian translocations. It is now known that such abnormalities cause no phenotypic effect on the carrier but lead to increased risk of producing unbalanced gametes. Here, we report the inheritance of a translocation between chromosomes 3 and 21 in a family with one of two fetuses with Down Syndrome carrying the same translocation and the other also carrying the same translocation without the additional chromosome 21. Chromosomal analysis from fetal amniotic fluid and peripheral blood lymphocytes from the family were performed at the Çukurova University Hospital at Adana, Turkey. We assessed a family in which the translocation between chromosomes 3 and 21 segregates: one of the three progenies carried the 47,XX,+21,t(3;21)(q21;q22) karyotype and presented with Down Syndrome; another of the three progenies carried the 46,XX,t(3;21) (q21;q22) karyotype and the third had the 46,XY karyotype. Their mother is phenotypically normal. Apparently this rearrangement occurred due to an unbalanced chromosome segregation of the mother [t(3;21)(q21;q22)mat]. This family will enable us to explain the behavior of segregation patterns and the mechanism for each type of translocation from carrier to carrier and their effects on reproduction and numerical aberrations. These findings can be used in clinical genetics and may be used as an effective tool for reproductive guidance and genetic counseling.

Evaluation of the effects of androgen receptor gene trinucleotide repeats and prostate-specific antigen gene polymorphisms on prostate cancer.

The number of trinucleotide repeats [CAG (coding for polyglutamine), GGC (coding for polyglycine)] in the first exon of the androgen receptor (AR) gene and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) gene androgen response element I A/G polymorphism are both related to prostate cancer prognosis. We investigated whether these genomic changes occur in the AR and PSA genes, which are usually found in individuals with prostate cancer, of Turkish patients and to find out their distribution in the population. We used PCR and PCR-RFLP assays for AR and PSA genes, respectively, to detect molecular changes in 44 prostate cancer patients. Our findings indicate that individuals with prostate cancer tend to have around 18 CAG trinucleotide repeats. We observed significant differences between 22 controls, 33 benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) patients and 44 adenocarcinoma patients for long CAG repeats. However, we did not find any significant differences in GGC repeats between controls, BPH and adenocarcinoma patients (P = 0.408). We also did not observe significant differences in the PSA A/G polymorphism frequency between controls, BPH and adenocarcinoma patients (P = 0.483). In conclusion, CAG and GGC repeats in the AR and PSA gene polymorphisms may be associated with prostate cancer risk and BPH in the Turkish population.

Association between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Gene -308 (G>A) and -850 (C>T) Polymorphisms in Turkish Children.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neurobiological disease characterized with obsessions and compulsions. Obsessive compulsive disorder occurs with an autoimmune mechanism after Group A ß hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) infection. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is an important cytokine, as well as having an important role in the apoptosis mechanism of autoimmune diseases. It is expressed by the TNF-α gene. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the TNF-α gene promoter region -308 (G>A) and -850 (C>T) polymorphisms and OCD. In this study, ages of the OCD patients and the control group ranged between 4 and 12 years. We studied two patient groups, one included childhood onset OCD patients (n = 49) and the control group was composed of healthy children (n = 58). Patients were diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-IV) criteria and with Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime (KSAD-S-PL) version. For identifying the polymorphisms, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) methods were used. For the -308 polymorphism, 45 of 49 OCD patients' results were completed, and for the -850 polymorphism, 47 of 49 OCD patients' results were completed. According to our statistical results, there is a positive relationship between OCD and the -308 polymorphism (p <0.001) but no association between OCD and the -850 polymorphism (p = 0.053). There is no positive relationship between antistreptolysin O (ASO) titers and the -308 polymorphism (p = 0.953) but there is an important significance between the -850 polymorphism and ASO (p = 0.010). There is no positive relationship between gender of patients and OCD (p = 0.180) and no positive association between ASO and gender (p = 0.467). According to our results, we hypothesize that we can propose the mutant AA genotype for the -308 polymorphism, and that the mutant CT genotype for the -850 polymorphism may be used as molecular indicators for OCD.

Association of serum sex steroid levels and bone mineral density with CYP17 and CYP19 gene polymorphisms in postmenopausal women in Turkey.

Many clinical conditions, including osteoporosis, are associated with serum levels of sex steroids. Enzymes that regulate rate-limiting steps of steroidogenic pathways, such as CYP17 and CYP19, are also regarded as significant factors that may cause the development of these conditions. We investigated the association of two common polymorphisms, in the promoter region (T→C substitution) of CYP17 and exon 3 (G→A) of CYP19, with bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar spine and femoral neck and serum androgen/estradiol, in a case-control study of 172 postmenopausal women aged 62.3 ± 9.6 years (mean ± SD). The CYP17 TC genotype was significantly overrepresented in patients compared to controls, and TC genotype neck T-score and lumbar T-score values were significantly higher in patients compared to controls. CYP17 TC and TT genotype testosterone and DHEA-SO(4) levels were lower in patients compared to controls. All three genotypes of CYP19 had almost the same distribution among patients. The CYP19 AG genotype, however, was most frequent among controls. CYP19 lumbar BMD levels were close to each other among the different genotypes; however, AA and AG genotypes were significantly lower in patients. Testosterone and DHEA-SO(4) levels in the CYP19 GG genotype were higher compared to those of the other genotypes in patients but not in controls. CYP19 GA individuals had lower E(2) levels and lower BMD in controls and patients. Femoral neck BMD and lumbar T-score were also diminished with GA transition. In conclusion, CYP17 and CYP19 gene polymorphisms were found to be associated with osteoporosis in postmenopausal women in Turkey.

Polymorphisms of HPC2/ELAC2 and SRD5A2 (5α-Reductase Type II) Genes in Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer is the proliferation of malignant cells in the prostate gland. The HPC2/ELAC2 gene on chromosome 17p11.2 and SRD5A2 gene on chromosome 2p22-23 are predisposing genetic factors. We examined the relationship between Ser217Leu and Ala541Thr polymorphisms of the former gene, and Ala49Thr and Val89Leu polymorphisms of the latter gene to prostate cancer in Turkish men, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and appropriate restriction enzymes. The HPC2/ELAC2 gene Ser217-Leu and SRD5A2 gene Ala49Thr polymorphisms were associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in Turkish men [for the HPC2/ELAC2 gene Ser217Leu polymorphism: odds ratio (OR) 2.7; confidence interval 95% (CI 95%) 1.6-4.8; p 0.000<0.05, and for the SRD5A2 gene Ala49Thr polymorphism: OR 2.4; CI 95% 1.2-4.9; p 0.004<0.05].

Insecticide resistance in Anopheles sacharovi Favre in southern Turkey.

We report the resistance to 12 insecticides of specimens of Anopheles sacharovi, both in laboratory cultures and those collected in the malarious areas of Adana, Adiyaman, Antalya, Aydin, and Mugla in southern Turkey. Mortality was higher 24 h after exposure than immediately after exposure but was unaffected by temperature (24 degrees C or 29 degrees C) or the position of the test kit (horizontal or vertical). In Adana, Adiyaman and Antalya, A. sacharovi was susceptible only to malathion and pirimiphos-methyl. In Aydin it was susceptible to both these insecticides as well as to dieldrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, and etofenprox; and in Mugla it was susceptible to dieldrin, fenitrothion, lambda-cyhalothrin, cyfluthrin and etofenprox, as well as to malathion and pirimiphos-methyl.

Sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) associated with epidemic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sanliurfa, Turkey.

As part of a project to study the possible impact of environmental change on health in southeastern Turkey, we evaluated sandfly species diversity, abundance, and habitat associations in an urban area where cutaneous leishmaniasis was undergoing epidemic re-emergence. Houses and caves in and around the city of Sanliurfa, Turkey, were sampled using mechanical aspirators, sticky papers, and CDC light traps. Of 1,649 sandflies captured, including 6 Phlebotomus and 1 Sergentomyia species, nearly all were P. papatasi (Scopoli) (967) or P. sergenti Parrot (674). Sandflies were active during June-September (hot dry season), but not during January (cool rainy season). Resting phlebotomines were abundant inside houses. Houses sampled in 3 neighborhoods with a high cutaneous leishmaniasis incidence (9-65 cases per 1,000 population) had > 10 times more flies than at a comparison site where few cases (0.2 per 1,000) have been reported. Results indicated that P. sergenti or P. papatasi were the probable vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis during this outbreak and that control of these sandflies may eliminate transmission.

Residual efficacy of pirimiphos methyl (Actellic) on Anopheles sacharovi in Cukurova, Turkey.

Village-scale trials of 50% emulsifiable concentrate (EC) and 40% wettable powder (WP) formulations of pirimiphos methyl (Actellic) were carried out against Anopheles sacharovi in Cukurova, Turkey. Susceptibility tests with wild caught, gonoactive and composite aged An. sacharovi over a range of chemical concentrations resulted in 100% mortality after exposure for 60 min to a 0.5% active ingredient concentration. Surface treatments of Actellic 50% EC at 0.9 g/m2 caused a significant decrease in parous rate and a 96.9% reduction in resting density. Persistence on concrete, wood, zinc and plywood was still high at the time of the second spray round, more than 7 wk postspray and ranged from 73% (zinc) to 98% (plywood). More than 50% mortality was still recorded 8 wk postspray using 1.6 g/m2 WP on wood, plywood, zinc and thatch substrates.

Development of Plasmodium vivax in Anopheles superpictus under experimental conditions.

The susceptibility of Anopheles superpictus for Plasmodium vivax was described quantitatively under laboratory conditions. Of the 697 laboratory females studied in 16 groups, 513 (73.5%) females took a bloodmeal, of which 88.4% developed ookinetes on day 1, 56.1% oocysts between days 3 and 11, and 52.5% sporozoites in the salivary gland on days 15 to 63 post-infection. Sporogony was completed in 10-11 days post-infection. There was no difference in the longevity of uninfected and infected females. Infected females survived an average of 30 days (maximum 63 days). Sporozoites survived up to 50 days in the salivary glands without any observable changes in structure and motility. These data indicate that An. superpictus is an efficient laboratory vector of P. vivax and should not be ignored in future entomological field studies.