Epidemiology of Oestrus ovis infestations in sheep in Kars province of north-eastern Turkey.

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of cavical myiasis caused by Oestrus ovis larvae in sheep of Kars province of north-eastern part of Turkey. From 30 to 35 sheep heads (total of 387) were examined every month regularly for O. ovis larvae during 12 months. Of 387 heads, 156 (%40.3) were infested with O. ovis larvae.. The prevalence of nasal myiasis was 54.3% in spring, 41% in summer, 28% in fall, and 38.9% in winter. The differences among seasons were significant statistically (P<0.05). Infestation rate up to 1-years-old was 30.0%, 1 to 3 years-old 40.0% and older than 3 years old was 52.4%. The number of larvae made peak in spring months and went down in the months of fall. The mean number of larvae regarding examined animals was 1.8, and the mean according to infested animals was 4.5. Density of O.ovis larvae in infested sheep were changed from 1 to 31. Infestation rate in the morkaraman breed was higher (43.4%) comparing to the rate in the akkaraman breed (31.3%). The differences between sheep breed were also significant (p<0.05). Sheep with dark colored head had higher infestation rate than that of sheep with light colored head (p<0.05).

The prevalence of bovine hypodermosis in Kars province, Turkey.

A total of 1276 cattle from 76 farms in 8 villages were examined by palpation of the skin for evidence of hypodermosis. The effects of age, sex, breed, and colour of cattle on hypodermosis were investigated. The overall prevalence was 31.9%. The mean number of warble fly larvae on infested animals was 8.46. Hypodermosis infestations were encountered in all the villages visited. Within a herd, the intensity of infestion decreased with the age of cattle. Infestation rates of warble fly larvae were lower in native cattle, in females, and in piebald animals.

Short-term chlorambucil for refractory uveitis in Behcet's disease.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of short-term chlorambucil therapy in the management of uveitis due to Behcet's disease. METHODS: Forty-four patients with refractory uveitis associated with Behcet's disease who had had short-term chlorambucil therapy for about 23 weeks were included in the study. The frequency of attacks (number of attacks per year) and the longest period between the attacks were analyzed to evaluate the efficiency of the therapy. The therapy was judged to be effective if the patient had < or =1 attack a year and/or > or =1 year between the attacks. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 51.4 +/- 32.5 months (range: 13-122 months). Following the therapy, the mean frequency of attacks had decreased from 4.9 +/- 2.3 to 0.9 +/- 1.4 (p < 0.0001) and the mean longest period between the attacks was prolonged from 4.4 +/- 2.3 months to 25.7 +/- 23.1 months (p < 0.0001). The ratio of severe attacks had decreased from 74.1 +/- 34% to 51.3 +/- 36.6% (p = 0.0218). The best-corrected visual acuity was increased in 32.9%, decreased in 34.2%, and the same in 32.9% of the eyes. Phytsis bulbi developed in three (3.8%) eyes. New attacks were seen in 56.8% of patients and another immunosuppressive agent(s) was given to 40.9% of the patients 1-8 months after treatment. No serious side effects were observed during the chlorambucil therapy. CONCLUSION: Short-term chlorambucil therapy for refractory uveitis in Behcet's disease is effective in controlling the disease in two-thirds of patients.

The prevalence of coccidian species in sheep in Kars Province of Turkey.

Coccidia were detected in the faeces of 556 out of 592 sheep (93.9%) in sheep in Kars province. The prevalence of coccidiosis was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in young (97.9%) and immature sheep (96.6%) than in adult sheep (90.2%). Mixed infections were widespread (71.5%). Ten species of Eimeria were recognized. These species (and their prevalences) were: Eimeria ovinoidalis (47.7%), E. bakuensis (E. ovina) (46.6%), E. parva (37.1%), E. granulosa (27.7%), E. ahsata (23.4%), E. pallida (23.2%), E. faurei (15.1%), E. intricata (13.9%), E. crandallis (13.7%) and E. punctata (2.3%). Eimeria punctata is reported in sheep from Turkey for the first time. The mean oocyst count from infected animals was 3451 +/- 409 opg (range 50-117,600). The mean was higher (9529 +/- 502) in young sheep. Differences in the counts from young, immature and adult sheep were statistically significant (p < 0.01). However, no clinical cases of coccidiosis were encountered.

Laser photocoagulation for persistent central serous retinopathy: results of long-term follow-up.

PURPOSE: The authors evaluated the effect of laser photocoagulation for persistent central serous retinopathy (CSR). METHODS: The authors evaluated 45 eyes of 38 patients who had been offered laser photocoagulation for CSR that did not resolve after 4 months of observation. Sixteen eyes of 14 patients who did not accept laser photocoagulation were followed as the control group. The remaining 29 eyes of 24 patients comprised the study group. Argon green laser photocoagulation was performed on 9 eyes, dye-yellow laser photocoagulation was performed on 12 eyes, and dye-orange laser photocoagulation was performed on 8 eyes. Mean follow-up was 4.8 years (range, 1-7 years). RESULTS: In the group that received laser treatment, duration of the serous detachment was shorter (P < 0.0001) and final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was better (P = 0.006) than those of the control group. Although none of the eyes in the laser photocoagulation group had a recurrence, seven eyes in the control group had one or more recurrences during the mean follow-up period of 4.8 years (P = 0.0003). Although the duration of the serous detachment was shorter in the dye-yellow laser photocoagulation subgroup than in the argon green laser treatment subgroup (P = 0.01), there were no other differences between the laser photocoagulation subgroups with respect to the duration of the serous detachments or the final BCVA. CONCLUSION: Direct laser photocoagulation of the leakage site(s) for CSR that persists for 4 months is safe and effective to shorten the duration of the serous detachment, to improve final BCVA, and to decrease the incidence of recurrence.

Associated ocular findings in pericentral pigmentary retinopathy.

Macular complications occurred in two isolated patients who had pericentral pigmentary retinopathy. One patient demonstrated bilateral bull's-eye maculopathy and a unilateral full-thickness macular hole. Later, she developed central retinal artery occlusion in the fellow eye. The second patient had a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment that was reattached by scleral buckling surgery, but a full-thickness macular hole was found 3 months postoperatively. In both patients, foveal ischemia may have played a role for the development of macular hole, resulting in poor visual prognosis in pericentral pigmentary retinopathy.