Seropozitifity of Anti-Echinococcus granulosus in Patients with of Clinical Prediagnosis Cystic Echinococcosis at Kafkas University Health Research and Application Hospital

Objective: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a common zoonotic disease in the world, which is caused by the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus settling in various organs in both animals and humans. It is common in livestock breeding areas and rural areas. This study was conducted to determine anti-E. granulosus seropositivity in patients with clinical pre-diagnosis/suspected CE in Kafkas University Health Research and Application Hospital in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. Methods: Study material; between January 2018 and December 2020, 498 blood samples were sent to the Parasitology Laboratory from patients with clinical pre-diagnosis of CE, who applied to Kafkas University Health Research and Application Hospital for three years. The obtained serum samples were analyzed by indirect hemagglutination method. Results: Anti-Echinococcus granulosus antibodies were detected in 74 (14.9%) of 498 patients with clinical pre-diagnosis of hydatid cyst. Of the positive cases, 53 (71.6%) were observed in women, and 21 (28.4%) in men (p<0.05). Anti-E. granulosus antibodies were most commonly detected in the 16-30 age group (32.9%) (p<0.05), and 19.3% in the 16-60 age group. Conclusion: Although the study data do not cover the entire Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey, it has been concluded that KE maintains its importance as a public health problem in the region.

Molecular Epidemiology of Babesia and Theileria Species in Sheep in Kars Region of Turkey

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate Babesia and Theileria species and vector ticks in sheep in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 960 sheep, and ticks were collected from the same animals between January and December 2017. The reverse line blotting (RLB) method was used to analyze Babesia and Theileria piroplasm DNAs. Ticks and tick egg clusters were evaluated in terms of Babesia and Theileria species using the RLB technique. Results: Microscopically, 3.96% (38/960) of Theileria spp. piroplasm forms were identified; however, no Babesia spp. piroplasm forms were identified. The distribution of Babesia and Theileria spp. by RLB was 35.52% (341/960). The species identified included Theileria ovis (24.79%, 238/960), Theileria sp. (6.15%, 59/960), Theileria sp. OT3 (4.27%, 41/960), and Babesia ovis (0.31%, 3/960). Tick infestation was found in 17.5% (168/960) of the sheep. Dermacentor marginatus (66.31%), Haemaphysalis parva (32.73%), Hae. punctata (0.21%), Rhipicephalus bursa (0.53%), and Hyalomma marginatum (0.11%) were identified in the infected sheep. No pathogenic species were found in the analysis of egg clusters or tick carcasses according to the RLB method. Conclusion: Theileria ovis is the theileriosis agent in sheep in the study region. Species commonly detected in tick-infested sheep were D. marginatus and Hae. parva.

Determining the Prevalence of Cryptosporidium Infections with Acid Fast Staining and ELISA in Calves at the Kars Province of Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to comparatively determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infections in calves grown at dairies under farm or village conditions at the Kars Province using modified acid-fast (mAF) staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). METHODS: Stool samples constituting the study material were collected between March and June 2011 from rectums of calves at 22 centers in the villages and farms of the Kars Province. Calves were divided into 2 groups: 3-90 days old (up to 3 months old) and 91-180 days old (older than 3 months). The study material comprised 313 stool samples (146 diarrheal samples and 167 healthy samples). Each of the samples was first examined using mAF staining; of these samples, 222 were examined using the C. parvum ELISA kit (Bio-X Diagnostics), whereas 91 were examined using the Cryptosporidium commercial ELISA kit (Diagnostic Automation, Inc., USA) for the presence of Cryptosporidium copro-antigens. RESULTS: The incidence of the presence of Cryptosporidium among the calves was 3.8% (12/313) with mAF staining and 5.1% (16/313) with ELISA. All the samples in which the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts was determined using mAF staining were determined to be positive using ELISA. Cryptosporidium was found to be present in 5.5% (8/146) and 7.5% (11/146) of diarrheal calves, 2.4% (4/167) and 3.0% (5/167) of healthy calves, 4.0% (10/253) and 5.5% (14/253) of calves aged up to 3 months, and 3.3% (2/60) (via both tests) of calves aged 3-6 months. C. parvum was present in 5.9% (13/222) of the calves; it was found at a higher concentration in calves aged up to 3 months (6.2%; 12/194) than in those aged 3-6 months (3.6%; 1/28). Of the C. parvum-positive cases, 9 cases were found to have diarrhea, whereas 4 were observed to be healthy. C. parvum copro antigens were observed at the highest level (7.4%; 8/108) in diarrheal calves aged up to 3 months. At the species level, the rate of incidence of Cryptosporidium copro-antigens in calves examined using ELISA for determining Cryptosporidium factors was found to be 3.3% (3/91), and the same rate was found 3.4% (2/59) in calves aged up to 3 months and 3.1% (1/32) in those aged 3-6 months. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of Cryptosporidium infections among the calves was observed to decrease in recent years.

Research on Laying Trichostrongylid Nematode Eggs in Cows in the Periparturient Period.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to comparatively determine the prevalence of trichostrongylid nematodes and egg excretions in cows that are in the periparturient period (PPP) and pregnant cows in the non-periparturient period (NPPP). METHODS: Animal materials are constituted by cows in PPP and NPPP in 10 ranches in Kars and surrounding areas. Stool samples were collected from the rectum of 125 pregnant cows, which were in NPPP during November 2010 - January 2011 and from the same cows in PPP during April-May 2011. Stool samples were analyzed for the presence of nematode eggs by the flotation method. EPG was determined by the McMaster method. RESULTS: Trichostrongylid nematode eggs were detected in seven of 10 dairy cattle ranches (70%). The prevalence rates of trichostrongylid nematodes were 16.8% (21/125) during NPPP and 27.2% (34/125) during PPP. Nineteen of 21 (90.5%) positive samples during NPPP were positive during PPP. Fifteen negative samples during NPPP were positive during PPP with respect to trichostrongylid nematode eggs. The egg count of trichostrongylid during PPP (total, 4350; mean, 34.8; n, 125) was greater than that during NPPP (total, 1250; mean, 10; n, 125). CONCLUSION: Cows had nematode eggs during PPP and played an important role in transmission.

Infections of Ligula intestinalis on Freshwater Fish in Kars Plateau of North-Eastern Anatolia, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Ligula intestinalis and infections caused by these on freshwater fish in rivers and streams in the Kars plateau of north-eastern Anatolia, Turkey. METHODS: This research was conducted between April and July 2011. Fish samples were caught via a casting net and an electro-shocker. The samples were immediately examined to determine the prevalence of L. intestinalis plerocercoids. RESULTS: In this research, 310 stream fishes were studied to determine the prevalence of L. intestinalis plerocercoids. Detected fishes included 55.8% Capoeta capoeta, 24.2% Squalius cephalus, 11.0% Alburnus filippii, 5.8% Barbus plebejus lacerta, and 3.2% Alburnoides bipunctatus. L. intestinalis plerocercoids were found in 2.6% (8/310) of the examined fishes. The percentage of this parasite was found to be 38.9% (7/18) on B. plebejus lacerta and 0.6% (1/173) on C. capoeta. L. intestinalis plerocercoids were not observed on the other three fish species (S. cephalus, A. filippii, and Al. bipunctatus). CONCLUSION: In this study, L. intestinalis plerocercoids were reported for the first time in the Kars stream and its distributaries on the Kars plateau in north-eastern Anatolia, Turkey.

[A postoperative wound myiasis caused by Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in a woman in Kars]. / Kars'ta Bir Kadinda Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae)'nin Neden Oldugu Postoperatif Yara Myiasisi.

Lucilia sericata is known as a facultative ectoparasite and it often causes myiasis in open wounds, mouth, nose and eyes of animals and rarely in humans. This case report concerns a 56 year old woman who had right breast cancer surgery. Approximately 10 months after surgery, swelling, pain, redness occurred in the incision site. About two weeks later the site turned into an open wound then fly larvae (97 live larvae) were found. Under t operation conditions, a large surgical wound debridement and debulking were performed on the open wound. The patient was followed for three weeks after the operation. The wound dressings were carried out daily and it shrank partially. Medical treatment was given to the patient and she was discharged. The collected larvae were identified as Lucilia sericata by microscopic examination in the parasitology lab.

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium species in diarrhoeic lambs in Kars province and potential risk factors.

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species in diarrhoeic lambs and investigate some risk factors in Kars province (Northeastern region of Anatolia) in Turkey. Four hundred faecal samples were taken from the rectums of clinically diarrhoeic and aged to 1-month-old lambs from 34 sheep farms in 20 villages in March-April 2007 and examined by using the modified acid-fast staining technique. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium species was found as 38.8% (155/400). Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 90.0% (18/20) of villages and in 76.5% (26/34) of the sheep farms. Infection rates were detected as: 44.4% (67/151) in 1-week-old lambs, 37.5% (39/104) in 2-week-old lambs, 40.0% (38/95) in 3-week-old lambs, and 22.0% (11/50) in 4-week-old lambs. Farms classified according to their zoohygienic conditions and fine, average and bad conditioned farms were contaminated with Cryptosporidium with the percentages of 14.7%, 20.6% and 41.2%, respectively. Clinical cryptosporidiosis was determined in 35.0% of the villages (7/20) and in 29.4% of the sheep farms (10/34), Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 81.3% of the lambs (91/112) in these farms. Cryptosporidiosis may be a major epidemiological significance in lambs in Kars province, and suggests that naturally infected lambs may be reservoirs of Cryptosporidiosis infections for calves even for humans too.

[The prevalence of intestinal parasites in children brought to the Kars Maternal and Children's Hospital with complaints of gastrointestinal symptoms]. / Kars Dogum ve Cocuk Bakimevi Hastanesine Gastrointestinal Yakinmalarla Basvuran Cocuklarda Bagirsak Parazitlerinin Yayginligi.

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in 2-6 year-old children who were brought to Kars Maternal and Children's Hospital with complaints of gastrointestinal symptoms during March-June 2007. Fecal samples were taken from children and brought to the parasitology laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to be examined for intestinal parasites. Fecal samples were examined by centrifugal formalin ether, zinc-sulphate floatation, and modified acid fast techniques. Lugol solution was used during microscopic examination and suspected samples were also examined by the Giemsa dye technique. The prevalence of intestinal parasites in children was found to be 36.2% (50/138). Protozoan and helminth parasites were found to be 34.1% (47/138) and 2.9% (4/138) in the fecal samples examined, respectively. Giardia intestinalis (10.9%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (10.1%), Entamoeba coli (8%), Blastocystis hominis (6.5%), Endolimax nana (4.3%), Chilomastix mesnili (1.4%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1.4%), Entamoeba hartmanni (0.7%), Cyclospora cayetanensis (0.7%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.7%) and Hymenolepis nana (0.7%) were identified from the feces of children of Kars and vicinity. No Cryptosporidium spp. was detected.

[The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in calves in Erzurum province]. / Erzurum Yöresinde Buzagilarda Cryptosporidium Türlerinin Prevalansi.

This study was carried out between March and April, 2007 to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in calves. The study was performed in 30 farms of 12 different localities of Erzurum and vicinity. The fecal samples were taken directly from the rectums of calves which were no more than three months old. The samples were centrifuged and examined under microscope by using the modified acid-fast technique. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. was found to be 22.8% (43/189). The rate of infection was 30.3% (36/119) in calves with diarrhea and 10% (7/70) in healthy calves. The prevalence of the protozoan was 91.7% (11/12) and 53.3% (16/30) in localities and farms respectively. The prevalence was 17.3% (18/104) in state farms and 29.4% in village farms. During the research period, the presence of Cryptosporidiosis was suspected in 16 calves on two different farms. Fourteen of 16 calves (87.5%) were found to be infected with Cryptosporidium spp.

Detection of Babesia (Theileria) equi (Laveran, 1901) in horses in the Kars province of Turkey.

This study was carried out in order to detect antibodies to Babesia (Theileria) equi in the local breed of horses in the province of Kars, Turkey. A total of 108 serum samples from apparently healthy horses in eight villages were examined for B. equi antibodies by an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Of the 108 samples tested, 27 (25%) were found to be seropositive. The horses sampled in Aydinalan village had the highest prevalence (50.0%) of Babesia equi infection while the lowest prevalence was found among horses from Bayraktar village (12.5%). Statistically significant differences in seroprevalence were observed between these two villages (P < 0.05). This study is the first report on the status of B. equi infection in Kars.