Genetic Analysis of Toxocara Spp. in Stray Cats and Dogs in Van Province, Eastern Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati are roundworms of dogs and cats. The purpose of this study was to investigate the infection caused by these ascarids in cats and dogs, using microscopic and molecular analysis methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adult ascarids were gathered from the faeces of dogs and cats in Van province, in 2015-2016. Existing keys and PCR sequencing of the ITS-2 fragment were used to identify the morphological features of the parasite species. RESULTS: It was observed that out of 20 adult ascarids, 17 and 3 were found to be Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, respectively. The ITS-2 gene region was amplified by PCR to perform molecular analysis. Genotyping indicated that the dogs and cats were infected with T. canis and T. cati, respectively, and none had Toxascaris leonina. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the molecular characteristics of adult ascaridoid nematodes from cats and dogs in Turkey. The molecular approaches established in this study enable molecular identification and genetic structure studies of the ascaridoids.

Preliminary Studies on the Prevalence and Genotyping of Echinococcus Granulosus Infection in Stray Dogs in Van Province, Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: Echinococcus granulosus is a zoonotic helminth of the Taeniidae family living in the small intestines of dogs. The hydatid cyst, which is the larval form of this parasite, is observed in sheep, goat, cattle, and many other organisms including humans. It causes a disease called cystic echinococcosis. Identification of strains of E. granulosus in dogs is critical in parasite control and eradication where possible. This study aims to determine the genotype of E. granulosus eggs and prevalence of this parasite in the faeces of dogs in the Van Province using the copro-PCR method. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was conducted between 2015 and 2016 on the faeces obtained from 100 stray dogs from different parts of the Van Province. The coprological examination was conducted using the formalin-ether concentration method. RESULTS: Taeniidae eggs were found in 10 (10%) out of 100 faecal samples. E. granulosus was detected in 4 out of 10 of these (40%) infected samples. Sequence analysis of positive amplicons obtained from PCR showed that there were sheep strains (G1). CONCLUSION: Dogs in Van area are primarily infected with the livestock genotype of E. granulosus, which is thought to be a potential zoonotic threat to humans.

[Topical selamectin treatment of Otodectes cynotis in Van Cats]. / Van kedilerinin kulak uyuzunun (Otodectes cynotis) topikal selamectin ile tedavisi.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was evaluate the efficacy of the use of selamectine in the treatment of O. cynotis in Van Cats. METHODS: The material of this study comprised of 30 Van Cat which were infected. RESULTS: In the clinical examination; restlessness, head shaking, scratching at the ears and wax in both ears with brown-black colored cerumens were found. In the otoscopic examination and analysing the samples, O. cynotis was determined. For treatment, single dose selamectin was given. At the 15th and 30th day after treatment, otoscopic and microscopic examinations were repeated. In the 15th day after the treatment, it was found that clinical symptoms seen in the animals were significantly reduced, only the cerumens in 4 cats remained. Besides, at the 30th day, it is found that all the clinical symptoms disappeared in all animals, and with the otoscopic and microscopic examination it was found that there were no agents of O. cynotis. CONCLUSION: As a result, due to the ease of usage in cats housed in a crowd and the reason the efficiency for the treatment used as a single dose, selamectine is efficient for treating O. cynotis in Van Cats and it can be used safely.

[Determination of the status of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in cattle infected with Dictyocaulus viviparus]. / Dictyocaulus viviparus ile Enfekte Sigirlarda Lipit Peroksidasyon ve Antioksidan Durumunun Saptanmasi.

Endoparasites cause significant economic losses and health problems in domestic animals. In this study, lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant status were investigated in the lung tissue taken from twenty cattle infected with Dictyocaulus viviparus and ten healthy cattle. Malondialdehyde superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, vitamin C and beta-carotene were measured. In comparison to the control group, the concentration of MDA was high (p < 0.001), but the activities of Cu-Zn-SOD and CAT, and the concentration of GSH, vitamin C and beta-carotene were low (Cu-Zn-SOD, CAT, GSH, vitamin C, p < 0.001 and beta-carotene p < 0.05) in the parasite infected group. These results suggested that endoparasitic infection is among the major causes of oxidative stress. Lipid peroxidation was observed and the activities and concentrations of antioxidants systems were decreased in the lungs of cattle infected with Dictyocaulus viviparus.

Comparison of the effects of local and uncontrolled levamisole preparations on mice naturally infected with Aspiculuris tetraptera.

This study was performed to compare effectiveness of two levamisole preparations prepared in two different countries (Iran and Turkey) in mice naturally infected with Aspiculuris tetraptera. For this purpose, natural infection was diagnosed using the cellophane tape method on the perianal region and centrifugal flotation technique on the feces of mice obtained from the experimental Animal Unit of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Yüzüncü Yil, Van. Mice naturally infected with A. tetraptera were then divided in three groups. Animals in Group 1 (8 animals) received levamisole prepared in Iran, animals in Group 2 (8 animals) received levamisole prepared in Turkey and animals in Group 3 (6 animals) were used as untreated controls. Both levamisole preparations were used in a 10 mg/kg dose. After drug administrations, stool samples of the animals in all groups were examined for seven days. On the eighth day, the animals were humanely destroyed using inhalation anesthesia. After euthanasia, parasites in the intestine were also counted. As a result; levamisole coming through uncontrolled border trade from Iran was 69.3% effective against A. tetraptera and the levamisole prepared in Turkey was 91.7% effective in naturally infected mice. Results obtained from this study compared statistically and the differences were found to be significant (p < 0.001).

[Some biochemical parameters in sheep infected with endoparasites (Fasciola spp., Dicrocoelium dendriticum, hydatid cysts, Trichostrongylidae and Protostrongylidae)]. / Endoparazitli (Fasciola spp., Dicrocoelium dendriticum, kist hidatik, Trichostrongylidae ve Protostrongylidae) koyunlarda bazi biyokimyasal parametreler.

This study was performed in order to investigate the variations of some blood biochemical parameters as well as the levels of Vitamin. B(12) and some macro elements in sheep infected with endoparasites. The blood samples were taken from the sheep that were to be slaughtered in the Van Municipality Slaughterhouse while the stool samples were taken after the slaughtering of the same animals. The postmortem examinations were made to investigate for the presence of Fasciola spp., D. dendriticum and cyst hydatid infections. The stool samples were examined helminthologically using native, sedimentation, flotation and Baermann-Wetzel methods. The control group was composed of animals not showing any internal organ parasites or parasites in the stool examination. Following the macroscopic and the stool examination, the animals found to have the same type of parasites were considered to be the study group. According to the analyses performed on the animals, the levels of total protein (in Trichostrongylidae, hydatid cysts), globulin, amylase, chlorine, and Vit.B(12) were found to be increased significantly, while the levels of albumin, magnesium, and phosphorus were found to be decreased significantly. The other parameters analyzed were not significant statistically between the groups.