Investigation of inhibition effect of butanol and water extracts of Matricaria chamomilla L. on angiotensin-converting enzyme purified from human plasma.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) liable for the regulation of blood pressure was purified from human plasma by affinity chromatography. Impact of water and butanol extracts of Matricaria chamomilla L. on purity ACE was examined. ACE was purified using the affinity chromatography method. The enzyme activity was evaluated at 345 nm by a spectrophotometer. Extracts of M. chamomilla plant with butanol and water were prepared. Lisinopril was utilized as a specific inhibitor. ACE was purified 3,659-fold from human plasma and the specific activity was 1,350 EU/mg protein. The molecular weight and purity of ACE were found by SDS-PAGE and two bands of 60 and 70 kDa on the gel were detected. Water and butanol extracts of M. chamomilla demonstrated inhibitor impact on ACE activity. IC50 constants for water and butanol extracts of M. chamomilla were computed to be 1.292 and 0.353 mg/mL, respectively. The type of inhibition for whole inhibitors was identified as noncompetitive. IC50 and Ki constants for lisinopril were calculated to be 0.781 and 0.662 nM, respectively. These results indicate that butanol and water extracts of M. chamomilla may have an ACE inhibitor potential.

Ticks and Fleas Infestation on East Hedgehogs (Erinaceus concolor) in Van Province, Eastern Region of Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and fleas (Siphonaptera) are the major vectors of pathogens threatening animals and human healths. The aim of our study was to detect the infestation rates of East Hedgehogs (Erinaceus concolor) with ticks and fleas in Van Province, eastern region of Turkey. METHODS: We examined fleas and ticks infestation patterns in 21 hedgehogs, collected from three suburbs with the greater of number gardens. In order to estimate flea and tick infestation of hedgehogs, we immobilized the ectoparasites by treatment the body with a insecticide trichlorphon (Neguvon®-Bayer). RESULTS: On the hedgehogs, 60 ixodid ticks and 125 fleas were detected. All of the ixodid ticks were Rhipicephalus turanicus and all of the fleas were Archaeopsylla erinacei. Infestation rate for ticks and fleas was detected 66.66 % and 100 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: We detected ticks (R. turanicus) and fleas (A. erinacei) in hedgehogs at fairly high rates. Since many ticks and fleas species may harbor on hedgehogs and transmit some tick-borne and flea-borne patogens, this results are the important in terms of veterinary and public health.

Detection of putative virulence genes in Aeromonas isolates from humans and animals.

INTRODUCTION: Aeromonas are food- and water-borne bacteria that are considered to be zoonotic human pathogens. This study aimed to investigate the presence of genes associated with virulence in human and animal Aeromonas isolates and the potential role of animal isolates with regards to human Aeromonas infections. METHODOLOGY: The presence of aerA, hlyA, alt, ast, laf, ascF-G, stx1 and stx2 putative virulence genes in 40 human and animal Aeromonas isolates (16 human and 24 animal isolates) were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA fragments of expected sizes were purified and sequenced. BLAST in the NCBI was used to verify any amplified products. RESULTS: PCR screening showed that hlyA, alt, and laf genes were determined at ratios of 6.25%, 50%, and 6.25%, respectively, in human isolates. The ratios of hlyA, alt, ascF-G, laf, stx2, and stx1 genes in animal isolates were 58.3%, 20.83%, 33.3%, 20.83%, 8.33%, and 4.17%, respectively. Neither aerA nor ast genes were detected in any isolates. Any one of eight putative virulence genes was not detected in seven human and eight animal isolates in the study. CONCLUSIONS: The current study is the first to investigate the presence of the virulence gene in gull Aeromonas isolates. The manifestation of the presence of the virulence gene and gene combinations was considerable, especially in fish and gull isolates when compared with clinical human isolates. The current study demonstrates the potential importance of fish and gulls in terms of human Aeromonas infections.

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in asymptomatic food workers.

OBJECTIVE: Cryptosporidium spp. is obligatory intracellular parasite and causes intestinal infection. In intestine infections in the form of sporadic and epidemics, food and accordingly workers in food sector may play a role as the source of infection. In this study, it is aimed to reveal the existence of asymptomatic cryptosporidiosis. METHODS: In the study, stool samples of 393 workers -employed at various branches of food sector in the region of Van- are used. In order to detect Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts, Modified Ziehl Neelsen (MZN) Staining was used. RESULTS: In this study, asymptomatic cryptosporidiosis has been detected in 5 (1.27%) of 393 workers. CONCLUSION: Epidemiological findings indicate that food workers can be source of cryptosporidiosis outbreak. Thus, searching for the existence of asymptomatic cryptosporidiosis food workers -which epidemiologically has potential significance- and taking the required measures in case of its determination are significant in respect of public health.

[Distribution of intestinal parasites in children from the 23 Nisan Primary School in Hakkari.]. / Hakkari 23 Nisan Ilkögretim Okulu ögrencilerinde bagirsak parazitlerinin yayginligi

This study was performed on children ranging from 6-14 years old coming from 23 Nisan Primary School in Hakkari. In this study, a total of 114 stool samples from 60 male students and 54 female students were examined for intestinal parasites. Stool containers were given to the students. After the stool containers were collected, they were taken to the Faculty of Medicine of the Yüzüncü Yil University and examined using native Lugol and flotation methods. One or more intestinal parasites were found in 66 (57.8%) out of a total of 114 students. Giardia intestinalis (28.9%), Blastocystis hominis (23.6%), Entamoeba coli (12.2%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (6.14%) were most prevalent parasites.

[Prevalence of coccidiosis agents in calves in the Yüksekova (Hakkari) region.]. / Yüksekova (Hakkari) yöresi dana ve buzagilarinda coccidiosis etkenlerinin yayginligi

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of coccidia species in calves in the region of Yüksekova (Hakkari) between March 2004 and July 2004. During this period fecal samples were collected from the rectum of 92 calves. Eimeria spp. and Isospora spp. oocysts were found in eighty-two (89.13%) out of a total of 92 calves. A solution of 2.5% potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) was added to the feces containing oocysts. Determination of the coccidia species was done after the sporulation of the oocysts in the Petri dishes containing feces. It was found that the calves were infected with a total of 10 species. These species were E. bovis (47.82%), E. zuernii (35.86%), E. auburnensis (15.21%), E. ellipsoidalis (11.95%), E. alabamensis (9.78%), E. cylindrica (8.69%), E. subspherica (6.25%), E. bukidnonensis (5.43%), E. illinoisensis (2.17%) and Isospora spp. (3.26%).