Molecular Survey of Babesia microti (Aconoidasida: Piroplasmida) in Wild Rodents in Turkey.

Babesia microti (Aconoidasida: Piroplasmida) (Franca, 1910) is an important tick-borne zoonotic parasite with rodents serving as reservoir hosts. In the present study, 536 rodents were captured from Burdur, Bartin, Giresun, and Yozgat provinces of Turkey between the years 2010 and 2012, and blood samples were examined for the presence of Babesia spp. using conventional PCR which targeted the 18S rRNA gene. The sequence analysis of PCR amplicons was tested for B. microti as well as for Hepatozoon spp., and Sarcocystis spp. Overall, 5.8% of the rodents were positive for B. microti: 41% in Myodes glareolus, 7.7% in Chionomys roberti, and 2% in Apodemus spp., whereas no Babesia DNA was detected in Mus macedonicus and Microtus spp. Six rodents were positive for Hepatozoon spp. and one rodent was positive for Sarcocystis spp. Overall, 14.9 and 4.5% of rodents captured from Bartin and Giresun provinces, respectively, were PCR positive for B. microti, whereas none of rodents captured in Burdur and Yozgat were positive for Babesia spp. The sequence data of B. microti from rodents revealed that all sequences belonged to the zoonotic genotype. Sequences of B. microti obtained from rodents of the Bartin province were genotypically closer to European isolates, whereas those obtained from rodents of the Giresun province were closer to Russian and Mongolian isolates.

Blastocystosis in post-traumatic splenectomized patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and significance of intestinal protozoa, specially Blastocystis spp., and to perform PCR-based subtype classification for understanding the importance of Blastocystis spp. in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal disorders in post-traumatic splenectomized patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 stool samples were obtained from 30 post-traumatic splenectomized patients and 30 healthy controls. Wet mounts, trichrome and Kinyoun acid-fast stained slides were prepared from the stool specimens. PCR was used for detecting the presence of Giardia spp., Entamoeba spp., Dientamoeba fragilis, Cryptosporidium spp., Blastocystis spp. Genotyping was realized by using Blastocystis hominis STS primers. RESULTS: In both study groups, any helminth eggs and other protozoa except Blastocystis spp. were not detected by microscopy and PCR, and also bacterial cultures were negative. Only stool microscopy was positive for Blastocystis spp. in 30% (9 of 30) of splenectomized patients and in 13% (4/30) of healthy controls. PCR for Blastocystis spp. was positive in 40% (12 of 30), B. hominis genotypes were 20% (6/30): STS1 in 10% (3/30) and STS3 in 10% (3/30) of splenectomized patients. In healthy controls Blastocystis spp. was 13% (4/30) by PCR and genotypes of B. hominis was not detected. The difference between the prevalence of Blastocystis spp. infection in splenectomized patients and control groups was statistically significant (p=0.020). Abdominal pain was the most frequent gastrointestinal symptom (p=0.019) among splenectomized patients positive for Blastocystis spp. CONCLUSION: In post-traumatic healthy splenectomized patients, Blastocystis spp. were found to be the most prevalent protozoa and may be responsible for the gastrointestinal disorders.

[Evaluation of the radiological, biochemical and serological parameters of patients prediagnosed as cystic echinococcosis in Çorum, Turkey]. / Çorum'da kistik ekinokokkoz ön tanisi ile basvuran hastalarin radyolojik, biyokimyasal ve serolojik analizlerinin degerlendirilmesi.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus. It is difficult to diagnose CE by clinical symptoms alone, therefore, radiological and serological examinations should be conducted as well. The aims of this retrospective study were to evaluate the biochemical, hemogram, serological and radiological findings of patients prediagnosed as CE, and to survey epidemiological data to detect the status of the disease in our region. A total of 253 patients (148 female, 105 male) who were admitted to Hitit University Training and Research Hospital in Corum province (located in the central Black Sea Region of Turkey), between October 2009 to July 2013, were included in the study. Serum samples collected from the patients were analyzed by indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test, in the Microbiology Reference Laboratories of the Turkish Public Health Institute, and 1/160 and higher titers were considered positive. Twenty-three (15.5%) of female patients and nine (8.6%) of male patients, with a total of 32 (12.7%) were found to be seropositive. The difference between the gender was not statistically significant (X2= 2.72). The age range of the 32 seropositive patients was between 16-90 years (mean: 51), and of them 24 (75%) being over 40 years old was found as statistically significant (X2= 22.45). All of the seropositive patients presented radiological findings diagnosed with ultrasonography and computed tomography. Additionally, it was noticed that two patients (one male, one female) who were seronegative by IHA test, have passed a CE operation and the diagnosis was confirmed with pathological findings. Of the patients 43.8% were admitted to general surgery, followed by infectious diseases (21.9%), gastroenterology (21.9%) and other (12.5%) clinics. Radiological diagnosis showed that 31 (96.9%) of seropositive patients had CE in the liver, of them two (6.3%) also had lung involvement, while one patient (3.1%) had intraperitoneal involvement alone, without liver infection. Although 50% (16/32) of patients resided in Çorum urban area, most of them were dealing with agriculture and animal breeding. Among the biochemical parameters, GGT were detected with highest level (28%), followed by ALT (16%), AST (16%) and ALP (13%), while the other parameters were normal. Elevated RDW level was the most frequently observed result (29%) among hemogram parameters, while decreased levels of hematocrit, hemoglobin and MCV were detected in 23%, 19% and 19% of the patients, respectively. Eosinophilia was detected in 19% of the patients. In conclusion, for the diagnosis of CE, which is still an important public health problem in our region, a comprehensive evaluation of clinical, radiological, serological and biochemical findings is needed, to avoid a confusion of other diseases with similar clinical symptoms.