Investigation of Francisella tularensis Seroprevalence and Determination of Risk Factors for Tularemia among Hunters in Northern Cyprus.

Background: Tularemia is a zoonotic disease (reservoir is usually rodents) caused by Francisella tularensis, especially seen in the northern hemisphere. Hunters are in the risk group for this disease. In this study, it was aimed to determine the seroprevalence of tularemia among hunters and determine the risk factors of tularemia in our country. Methods: The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is divided into four regions (Nicosia, Kyrenia, Famagusta/Trikomo, and Morphou/Lefka) and 100 volunteer hunters randomly selected from these regions were included in our study. Tube agglutination test (TAT) and F. tularensis IgG and IgM (ELISA method) were applied in all sera. All hunters were filled with a pre-prepared questionnaire to determine risk factors for tularemia. Results: TAT positivity was found in 11%. While F. tularensis ELISA IgG positivity was 17%, IgM positivity was not found in any hunters. Hunters with positive F. tularensis ELISA IgG test (17%) were accepted as seropositive in terms of tularemia. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean age of IgG-positive and negative hunters (p= 0.915). Of the 86 hunters who kept at least one hunting dog in their garden, 15 (17.4%) were IgG-positive. There was no significant relationship between feeding hunting dogs and tularemia (p= 0.561). Conclusion: Our study showed that the seroprevalence of tularemia was high (17%) among hunters, who are considered a risk group, in our country. We think that more epidemiological research should be done on tularemia infection and it should not be overlooked in the clinic.

Fractional order model of MRSA bacterial infection with real data fitting: Computational Analysis and Modeling.

Bacterial infections in the health-care sector and social environments have been linked to the Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, a type of bacteria that has remained an international health risk since the 1960s. From mild colonization to a deadly invasive disease with an elevated mortality rate, the illness can present in many different forms. A fractional-order dynamic model of MRSA infection developed using real data for computational and modeling analysis on the north side of Cyprus is presented in this paper. Initially, we tested that the suggested model had a positively invariant region, bounded solutions, and uniqueness for the biological feasibility of the model. We study the equilibria of the model and assess the expression for the most significant threshold parameter, called the basic reproduction number (ℛ0). The reproductive number's parameters are also subjected to sensitivity analysis through mathematical methods and simulations. Additionally, utilizing the power law kernel and the fixed-point approach, the existence, uniqueness, and generalized Ulam-Hyers-Rassias stability are presented. Chaos Control was used to regulate the linear responses approach to bring the system to stabilize according to its points of equilibrium, taking into account a fractional-order system with a managed design where solutions are bound in the feasible domain. Finally, numerical simulations demonstrating the effects of different parameters on MRSA infection are used to investigate the impact of the fractional operator on the generalized form of the power law kernel through a two-step Newton polynomial method. The impact of fractional orders is emphasized in the study so that the numerical solutions support the importance of these orders on MRSA infection. With the application of fractional order, the significance of cognizant antibiotic usage for MRSA infection is verified.

Molecular Epidemiology of HIV-1 Subtypes and Primary Antiretroviral Resistance Profiles in Northern Cyprus: First Data Series.

The distribution of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) subtypes indicates difference from region to region and in risk groups acquiring the disease worldwide. Although subtype C is more in terms of total cases, subtype B is dominant in certain regions, especially in western and central Europe. Molecular epidemiological studies are essential for the control, effective treatment, and understanding in transmission routes of HIV-1 infection. This study aims to determine the molecular epidemiology and antiretroviral drug resistance profiles of HIV-1 in northern Cyprus. The study involved 71 naive HIV-positive patients diagnosed in northern Cyprus between 2016 and 2022. HIV-1 subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) were identified by phylogenetic analysis (neighbor-joining method) of pol gene sequences. Drug resistance mutations were analyzed using the World Health Organization (WHO) lists of mutations for surveillance. The Stanford University HIVdb program was used to interpret drug resistance mutations. In our study, 40 of 71 samples were successfully sequenced. Subtype B of HIV-1 was dominant with a rate of 52.5%, followed by CRF02_AG (20%) and G (7.5%) subtypes. The rate of subtype B (71.4%) in northern Cyprus was significantly higher than in the other country of origin (p = .028). Antiretroviral drug resistance was found in 15% of the sequenced serum samples. Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), non-nucleoside nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), and protease inhibitor (PI) resistance rates were 10% (4/40), 7.5% (3/40), and 2.5% (1/40), respectively. According to the results, it is noteworthy that the dominant subtype circulating in northern Cyprus is the B subtype, and CRFs were detected at a higher rate than expected.

Altered expression levels of TAS1R2 and TAS1R3 genes among SARS-CoV-2 variants of concerns.

BACKGROUND: The most common symptoms of coronavirus infections are fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, ache of joints, a loss of smell and loss of taste, and etc. Early studies suggested that smell and taste receptors were associated with pathogenic detection and immunity. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the expression profile of gene receptors that are related to taste, smell, and appetite control in COVID-19 patients and their putative correlation with SARS-CoV-19 variants. METHOD: Gene expression levels of TAS1R2, TAS1R3, TAS2R38, OR51E1, LEPR, GHRL were analyzed in 100 COVID-19 patients and 100 SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR negative group. RESULTS: The expression levels of TAS1R2 and TAS1R3 genes were significantly decreased in COVID-19 patients who were infected with Delta variant. However, the TAS2R38 gene expression level was significantly lower when compared to the control group. The TAS1R2 gene expression was positively correlated with TAS1R3, and TAS2R38 genes (p = 0.001, p = 0.025, respectively). CONCLUSION: TAS1R2, TAS1R3, and TAS2R38 gene expression levels were decreased in the Delta variant compared to the Omicron BA.1 variant in the studied groups. These results provided a significant clue for the temporary taste loss, especially in patients infected with the Delta variant, which is the most disruptive and symptomatic variant causing hospitalizations, and deaths compared to other variants may be because ACE2 is expressed in the taste buds and high replication of SARS-CoV-2 in the infected gustatory cells in the taste bud generates inflammation and then could eventually destroy the cells. This gustatory cell damage may cause malfunction of the gustatory system.

What Is Going on in Indoor Air Quality of a University Hospital in Northern Cyprus?

Background: There are two main purposes of microbial monitoring of the inanimate hospital environment. One of them is to monitor hygiene standards, and the second is to determine the presence of nosocomial pathogens. This study was aimed to investigate the indoor environment of the different departments of a university hospital. Methods: The prospective study was conducted in a university hospital, a teaching hospital with 143 beds and 30 ICU beds, and a hospital with 6 different wards in Northern Cyprus. Active air sampling was done by using an air IDEAL 3P device. Air samples were taken at 38 points defined before in different parts of the hospital. Results: Our results showed a low level of microorganisms' numbers in microbial airborne communities in a university hospital. Moreover, our results indicated that the temperature of the hospital's indoor environment is not significantly related to the airborne microbial community. On the other hand, our results indicate that the Aspergillus species were mostly isolated in the drug preparation room. Conclusion: The studies have shown that one of the causes of hospital infections is the microorganisms entering the airborne microbial communities. In this case, epidemiology and pathogenesis of airborne microbial communities should be understood.

Strong association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene InDel polymorphism and COVID-19 diseases.

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic that emerged in China in late 2019 and spread rapidly around the world. There is evidence that COVID-19 infection can be influenced by genetic variations in the host. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between ACE InDel polymorphism and COVID-19 in Northern Cyprus. Patients and methods: This study included 250 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and 371 healthy controls. Genotyping for the ACE InDel gene polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction. Results: The frequency of ACE DD homozygotes was significantly increased in COVID-19 patients compared to the control group (p = 0.022). The difference in the presence of the D allele between the patient and control groups was statistically significant (57.2% and 50.67%, respectively, p < 0.05). Individuals with the genotype II were found to have a higher risk of symptomatic COVID-19 (p = 0.011). In addition, chest radiographic findings were observed more frequently in individuals with the genotype DD compared to individuals with the genotypes ID and II (p = 0.005). A statistically significant difference was found when the time of onset of symptoms for COVID-19 and duration of treatment were compared with participants' genotypes (p = 0.016 and p = 0.014, respectively). The time of onset of COVID-19 was shorter in individuals with the genotype DD than in individuals with the genotype II, while the duration of treatment was longer. Conclusion: In conclusion, the ACE I/D polymorphism has the potential to predict the severity of COVID-19.

Antecedentes y objetivos: La pandemia de COVID-19 surgió en China a fines de 2019 y se extendió rápidamente por todo el mundo. Existe evidencia de que la infección por COVID-19 puede verse influenciada por variaciones genéticas en el huésped. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la asociación entre el polimorfismo ACE InDel y COVID-19 en el norte de Chipre. Pacientes y métodos: Se incluyeron 250 pacientes diagnosticados de COVID-19 y 371 controles sanos. El genotipado del polimorfismo del gen ACE InDel se realizó mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa. Resultados: La frecuencia de homocigotos ACE DD aumentó significativamente en pacientes con COVID-19 en comparación con el grupo de control (p = 0,022). La diferencia en la presencia del alelo D entre los grupos de pacientes y control fue estadísticamente significativa (57,2% y 50,67%, respectivamente, p < 0,05). Las personas con el genotipo II tenían un mayor riesgo de COVID-19 sintomático (p = 0,011). Además, los hallazgos radiográficos de tórax se observaron con mayor frecuencia en individuos con el genotipo DD en comparación con los individuos con los genotipos ID y II (p = 0,005). Se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa cuando se comparó el tiempo de aparición de los síntomas de COVID-19 y la duración del tratamiento con los genotipos de los participantes (p = 0,016 y p = 0,014, respectivamente). El tiempo de aparición de COVID-19 fue más corto en individuos con genotipo DD que en individuos con genotipo II, mientras que la duración del tratamiento fue más prolongada. Conclusiones: El polimorfismo ACE I/D podría predecir la gravedad de la COVID-19.

Strong association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene InDel polymorphism and COVID-19 diseases / Fuerte asociación entre el polimorfismo InDel del gen de la enzima convesiva de angiotensina y las enfermedades por COVID-19

Background and ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic that emerged in China in late 2019 and spread rapidly around the world. There is evidence that COVID-19 infection can be influenced by genetic variations in the host. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between ACE InDel polymorphism and COVID-19 in Northern Cyprus.Patients and methodsThis study included 250 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and 371 healthy controls. Genotyping for the ACE InDel gene polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction.ResultsThe frequency of ACE DD homozygotes was significantly increased in COVID-19 patients compared to the control group (p=0.022). The difference in the presence of the D allele between the patient and control groups was statistically significant (57.2% and 50.67%, respectively, p<0.05). Individuals with the genotype II were found to have a higher risk of symptomatic COVID-19 (p=0.011). In addition, chest radiographic findings were observed more frequently in individuals with the genotype DD compared to individuals with the genotypes ID and II (p=0.005). A statistically significant difference was found when the time of onset of symptoms for COVID-19 and duration of treatment were compared with participants’ genotypes (p=0.016 and p=0.014, respectively). The time of onset of COVID-19 was shorter in individuals with the genotype DD than in individuals with the genotype II, while the duration of treatment was longer.ConclusionIn conclusion, the ACE I/D polymorphism has the potential to predict the severity of COVID-19. (AU)

Antecedentes y objetivosLa pandemia de COVID-19 surgió en China a fines de 2019 y se extendió rápidamente por todo el mundo. Existe evidencia de que la infección por COVID-19 puede verse influenciada por variaciones genéticas en el huésped. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la asociación entre el polimorfismo ACE InDel y COVID-19 en el norte de Chipre.Pacientes y métodosSe incluyeron 250 pacientes diagnosticados de COVID-19 y 371 controles sanos. El genotipado del polimorfismo del gen ACE InDel se realizó mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa.ResultadosLa frecuencia de homocigotos ACE DD aumentó significativamente en pacientes con COVID-19 en comparación con el grupo de control (p=0,022). La diferencia en la presencia del alelo D entre los grupos de pacientes y control fue estadísticamente significativa (57,2% y 50,67%, respectivamente, p<0,05). Las personas con el genotipo II tenían un mayor riesgo de COVID-19 sintomático (p=0,011). Además, los hallazgos radiográficos de tórax se observaron con mayor frecuencia en individuos con el genotipo DD en comparación con los individuos con los genotipos ID y II (p=0,005). Se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa cuando se comparó el tiempo de aparición de los síntomas de COVID-19 y la duración del tratamiento con los genotipos de los participantes (p=0,016 y p=0,014, respectivamente). El tiempo de aparición de COVID-19 fue más corto en individuos con genotipoDD que en individuos con genotipoII, mientras que la duración del tratamiento fue más prolongada.ConclusionesEl polimorfismo ACE I/D podría predecir la gravedad de la COVID-19. (AU)

Long-COVID-19 in Asymptomatic, Non-Hospitalized, and Hospitalized Populations: A Cross-Sectional Study.

A substantial proportion of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors continue to suffer from long-COVID-19 (LC) symptoms. Our study aimed to determine the risk factors for LC by using a patient population from Northern Cyprus. Subjects who were diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in our university hospital were invited and asked to fill in an online questionnaire. Data from 296 survivors who had recovered from COVID-19 infection at least 28 days prior the study was used in the statistical analysis. For determination of risk factors for "ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 (OSC)" and "Post-COVID-19 (PSC)" syndromes, the patient population was further divided into group 1 (Gr1) and group 2 (Gr2), that included survivors who were diagnosed with COVID-19 within 4-12 weeks and at least three months prior the study, respectively. The number of people with post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection was 266 (89.9%). B.1.617.2 (Delta) (41.9%) was the most common SARS-CoV-2 variant responsible for the infections, followed by BA.1 (Omicron) (34.8%), B.1.1.7 (Alpha) (15.5%), and wild-type SARS-CoV-2 (7.8%). One-hundred-and-nineteen volunteers (40.2%) stated an increased frequency of COVID-19-related symptoms and experienced the symptoms in the week prior to the study. Of those, 81 (38.8%) and 38 (43.7%) were from Gr1 and Gr2 groups, respectively. Female gender, chronic illness, and symptomatic status at PCR testing were identified as risk factors for developing OSC syndrome, while only the latter showed a similar association with PSC symptoms. Our results also suggested that ongoing and persistent COVID-19-related symptoms are not influenced by the initial viral cycle threshold (Ct) values of the SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-2 variant as well as vaccination status and type prior to COVID-19. Therefore, strategies other than vaccination are needed to combat the long-term effect of COVID-19, especially after symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, and their possible economic burden on healthcare settings.

Strong association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene InDel polymorphism and COVID-19 diseases.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic that emerged in China in late 2019 and spread rapidly around the world. There is evidence that COVID-19 infection can be influenced by genetic variations in the host. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between ACE InDel polymorphism and COVID-19 in Northern Cyprus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 250 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and 371 healthy controls. Genotyping for the ACE InDel gene polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The frequency of ACE DD homozygotes was significantly increased in COVID-19 patients compared to the control group (p=0.022). The difference in the presence of the D allele between the patient and control groups was statistically significant (57.2% and 50.67%, respectively, p<0.05). Individuals with the genotype II were found to have a higher risk of symptomatic COVID-19 (p=0.011). In addition, chest radiographic findings were observed more frequently in individuals with the genotype DD compared to individuals with the genotypes ID and II (p=0.005). A statistically significant difference was found when the time of onset of symptoms for COVID-19 and duration of treatment were compared with participants' genotypes (p=0.016 and p=0.014, respectively). The time of onset of COVID-19 was shorter in individuals with the genotype DD than in individuals with the genotype II, while the duration of treatment was longer. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the ACE I/D polymorphism has the potential to predict the severity of COVID-19.

Comparative humoral response of mRNA and inactivated vaccines against COVID-19 in healthy adults aged 60 years and older.

INTRODUCTION: A vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is critically needed for older adults because of the increased morbidity and mortality rates. METHODOLOGY: In this prospective study, we analysed the titre magnitude of the IgG antibodies directed against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein S1 (S1-RBD) antigen in both CoronaVac and Pfizer-BioNTech groups. The samples were tested to detect antibodies that bind to the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique with SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant. The cut-off value was > 50 AU/mL. GraphPad Prism software was used. Statistical significance was defined at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The CoronaVac group (12 females, 13 males) had a mean age of 69.64 ± 1.38 years. The Pfizer-BioNTech group (13 males, 12 females) had a mean age of 72.36 ± 1.44 years. The anti- S1-RBD titre decrease rate from the 1st to the 3rd month for CoronaVac and Pfizer-BioNTech groups was 74.31% and 86.48%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the antibody titre between the 1st month and 3rd month for the CoronaVac group. However, there was a significant difference between the 1st and 3rd month in the Pfizer-BioNTech group. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in the genders between the 1st and 3rd month of the antibody titres for both the CoronaVac Pfizer-BioNTech group. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of anti-S1-RBD, the preliminary outcome data of our study, represents one piece of the puzzle of humoral response and duration of vaccination protection.

Strong Association between Vitamin D Receptor Gene and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 Infectious Variants.

A coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has created significant concern since December 2019 worldwide. The virus is known to be highly transmissible. Heterogenic clinical features even vary more among SARS-CoV-2 variants from asymptomatic forms to severe symptoms. Previous studies revealed an association between COVID-19 and vitamin D deficiency resulting from its low levels in COVID-19 patients. To our knowledge, there is no scientific investigation that evaluates the direct association between SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and vitamin D receptor ( VDR ) gene markers in Cyprus. Thus, the present study aimed to identify the putative impact of VDR gene polymorphisms on SARS-CoV-2 infection among different variants. The nasopharyngeal swabs were taken from a total number of 600 patients who were admitted to Near East University Hospital COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Diagnosis Laboratory for routine SARS-CoV-2 real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) test. The RT-qPCR negative resulting samples were taken as control samples ( n = 300). On the contrary, the case group consisted of patients who were SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR positive, infected with either SARS-CoV-2 Alpha ( n = 100), Delta ( n = 100), or Omicron ( n = 100) variants. Two VDR gene polymorphisms, Taq I-rs731236 T > C and Fok I-rs10735810 C > T, were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The mean age of the COVID-19 patient's ± standard deviation was 46.12 ± 12.36 and 45.25 ± 12.71 years old for the control group ( p > 0.05). The gender distribution of the patient group was 48.3% female and 51.7% male and for the control group 43% female and 57% male ( p > 0.05). Significant differences were observed in genotype frequencies of FokI and TaqI variants between SARS-CoV-2 patients compared to the control group ( p < 0.005). Furthermore, the risk alleles, FokI T allele and TaqI C, were found to be statistically significant (odds ratio [OR] = 1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.42-2.29, OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.27-2.05, respectively) in COVID-19 patients. The highest number of patients with wild-type genotype was found in the control group, which is 52.9% compared with 17.5% in the case group. Moreover, most of the COVID-19 patients had heterozygous/homozygous genotypes, reaching 82.5%, while 47.1% of the control group patients had heterozygous/homozygous genotypes. Our results suggested that patients with FokI and TaqI polymorphisms might tend to be more susceptible to getting infected with SARS-CoV-2. Overall, findings from this study provided evidence regarding vitamin D supplements recommendation in individuals with vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in the peri- or post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Contribution of genotypes in Prothrombin and Factor V Leiden to COVID-19 and disease severity in patients at high risk for hereditary thrombophilia.

Thrombotic and microangiopathic effects have been reported in COVID-19 patients. This study examined the contribution of the hereditary thrombophilia factors Prothrombin (FII) and Factor V Leiden (FVL) genotypes to the severity of COVID-19 disease and the development of thrombosis. This study investigated FII and FVL alleles in a cohort of 9508 patients (2606 male and 6902 female) with thrombophilia. It was observed that 930 of these patients had been infected by SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19. The demographic characteristics of the patients and their COVID-19 medical history were recorded. Detailed clinical manifestations were analyzed in a group of cases (n = 4092). This subgroup was age and gender-matched. FII and FVL frequency data of healthy populations without thrombophilia risk were obtained from Bursa Uludag University Medical Genetic Department's Exome Databank. The ratio of males (31.08%; 27.01%) and the mean age (36.85 ± 15.20; 33.89 ± 14.14) were higher among COVID-19 patients compared to non-COVID-19 patients. The prevalence of FVL and computerized tomography (CT) positivity in COVID-19 patients was statistically significant in the thrombotic subgroup (p < 0.05). FVL prevalence, CT positivity rate, history of thrombosis, and pulmonary thromboembolism complication were found to be higher in deceased COVID-19 patients (p < 0.05). Disease severity was mainly affected by FVL and not related to genotypes at the Prothrombin mutations. Overall, disease severity and development of thrombosis in COVID-19 are mainly affected by the variation within the FVL gene. Possible FVL mutation should be investigated in COVID-19 patients and appropriate treatment should be started earlier in FVL-positive patients.

The "vaccine" hubbub: Viral load comparisons of SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants against different vaccine-booster vaccine combinations.

There is a significant body of evidence showing that efficient vaccination schemes against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is helping control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, this goal cannot be achieved without real world data highlighting the impact of vaccines against viral spread. In this study, we have aimed at differentially investigating the impact of COVID-19 vaccines (CoronaVac, Pfizer/BioNTech, Astra/Zeneca Oxford, Janssen) used in North Cyprus in limiting the viral load of Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-COV-2. We have utilized real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction cycle threshold values (Ct values) as a proxy of viral load of the two SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our results indicate that the administration of at least two doses of the messenger RNA-based Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine leads to the lowest viral load (highest Ct values) obtained for both Omicron and Delta variants. Interestingly, regardless of the vaccine type used, our study revealed that Delta variant produced significantly higher viral loads (lower Ct values) compared with the Omicron variant, where the latter was more commonly associated with younger patients. Viral spread is a crucial factor that can help determine the future of the pandemic. Thus, prioritizing vaccines that will play a role in not only preventing severe disease but also in limiting viral load and spread may contribute to infection control strategies.

Investigation of Brucella canis and Brucella abortus Seropositivity by In-House Rapid Slide Agglutination Test and In-House ELISA in Northern Cyprus.

The incidence of Brucella canis (B. canis) in humans is unknown in Northern Cyprus. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of B. canis and Brucella abortus (B. abortus) infection in human sera and evaluated the results obtained by agglutination-based techniques using standardized antigens made from B. canis comparatively. All of the subjects were negative in terms of Rose-Bengal plate test. Undiluted serum samples were initially screened by rapid slide agglutination test (RSAT), and those which were found positive were retested in the dilution of 1/25-1/200. Confirmation of the positive results was performed by using 2-mercaptoethanol standard agglutination test (SAT). The test antigen was prepared from the less mucoid M (-) variant of B. canis, and 1/1,048 titered dog antiserum was used as positive control. In 225 serum samples, 3.6% (8/225) was positive by B. canis M (-) RSAT, 4.4 % (10/225) was positive by B. canis M (-) indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). 5.3% (12/225) was positive by B. abortus S99 RSAT and 9.8% (22/225) was positive by B. abortus S99 iELISA. Nine samples were positive by both B. abortus S99 RSAT and B. abortus S99 iELISA. Seven samples were positive by both B. canis M (-) RSAT and B. canis M (-) iELISA. One patient was positive by all methods. It is important to evaluate patient samples with RSAT and iELISA. Until the notification system gives better results to the Ministry of Health, in order to reach the real data for Northern Cyprus, multicenter prevalence determination studies should be done for future.

Frequency of Developing COVID-19 Pneumonia in Patients Who Were Vaccinated Double-Dose CoronaVac: Data of the Pandemic Authorized Hospital in Northern Cyprus.

Background: RT-PCR is the leading method used in the diagnosis of COVID-19, caused by 2019-nCoV. CT applications also provide a fast and easy diagnosis for detecting pneumonia caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The current study, aimed to compare the lung involvement of vaccinated (two-dose CoronaVac) and unvaccinated patients in the early stage of COVID-19 disease. Methods: In the current retrospective study, which included patients diagnosed with RT-PCR COVID-19 positivity (n=651) between 01 July 2021-15 September 2021, patient information was obtained from the authorized hospital of the pandemic. Data included patients' chest CT scans and whether patients had been vaccinated (two-dose CoronaVac) information. Results: The ratio of vaccination with double-dose CoronaVac in positive patients was 74.3%. The ratio of patients with normal lung appearance was 61.8%. It was determined that the ratio of involvement in both lungs of patients who were vaccinated with a double dose was significantly lower than the ratio of involvement in patients who were never vaccinated (p <0.001). Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that pneumonia cases were less common in individuals vaccinated with double-dose CoronaVac. In this study, it was also determined that the protection of the vaccine was higher in females than in males and that the protection of the double-dose CoronaVac vaccine was higher in the 50-60 age group compared to 60 older patients.

Assessment of Deep Learning Models for Cutaneous Leishmania Parasite Diagnosis Using Microscopic Images.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a common illness that causes skin lesions, principally ulcerations, on exposed regions of the body. Although neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are typically found in tropical areas, they have recently become more common along Africa's northern coast, particularly in Libya. The devastation of healthcare infrastructure during the 2011 war and the following conflicts, as well as governmental apathy, may be causal factors associated with this catastrophic event. The main objective of this study is to evaluate alternative diagnostic strategies for recognizing amastigotes of cutaneous leishmaniasis parasites at various stages using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). The research is additionally aimed at testing different classification models employing a dataset of ultra-thin skin smear images of Leishmania parasite-infected people with cutaneous leishmaniasis. The pre-trained deep learning models including EfficientNetB0, DenseNet201, ResNet101, MobileNetv2, and Xception are used for the cutaneous leishmania parasite diagnosis task. To assess the models' effectiveness, we employed a five-fold cross-validation approach to guarantee the consistency of the models' outputs when applied to different portions of the full dataset. Following a thorough assessment and contrast of the various models, DenseNet-201 proved to be the most suitable choice. It attained a mean accuracy of 0.9914 along with outstanding results for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, F1-score, Matthew's correlation coefficient, and Cohen's Kappa coefficient. The DenseNet-201 model surpassed the other models based on a comprehensive evaluation of these key classification performance metrics.

[Investigation of Leishmania infantum Seroprevalance and Leishmaniasis Knowledge Level in Northern Cyprus]. / Kuzey Kibris'ta Leishmania infantum Seroprevalansinin ve Leysmanyaz Bilgi Düzeyinin Arastirilmasi.

Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused by Leishmania parasites, transmitted by sand flies and common in the Mediterranean region. Cyprus is located in the east of Mediterranean Sea and is considered endemic for Leishmaniasis. In our study, it was aimed to investigate Leishmania infantum IgG seropositivity in healthy volunteers living in different regions of Northern Cyprus and to determine the risk factors for Leishmaniasis and measure the level of public knowledge about the disease. A total of 300 healthy volunteers (farmer/livestock: 100, hunter: 100, control group: 100) from five different regions of Northern Cyprus were included in the study, including Nicosia, Kyrenia, Famagusta, Morphou/Lefka, and Trikomo/Karpasia. The participants' blood was drawn and prepared questionnaire forms were filled out. Collected blood was centrifuged and the serum samples were separated and stored at -80ºC until the day of the test. All serum samples were tested for L.infantum IgG specific antibodies using the ELISA method (NovaTec, Immundiagnostica GmbH, Germany) in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. L.infantum IgG positivity was found to be 4.7% (14/300). The mean ages of L.infantum IgG positive and negative participants were 43.64 ± 11.74 and 42.17 ± 14.32 respectively. There was no statistically significant relationship between seropositivity and age (p= 0.706). The positivity rate was found to be significantly higher in hunters and farmers/livestocks compared with the control group (p= 0.020). In addition, it was determined that having a dog and the number of dogs owned were significantly associated with Leishmaniasis (p= 0.017, p= 0.020, respectively). On the other hand, 77% (231/300) of the volunteers included in our study had no prior knowledge about the disease. When compared to the other study groups, it was determined that hunters had the most knowledge of the Leishmaniasis infection (p= 0.001). Moreover, it was observed that as the education level of the participants increased, the level of knowledge about the disease also increased in parallel (p≤ 0.001). According to the results in our study, L.infantum IgG seropositivity was undeniably high in the healthy population living in Northern Cyprus. It is clear that outdoor activities such as hunting or dealing with farming/livestock are risk factors for the disease. In this context, it is apparent that more clear results will be obtained about the prevalence of the disease with the conduction of large-scale epidemiological studies. As a result, we concluded that especially risk groups should be informed about the current status of Leishmaniasis infection and necessary precautions should be taken.

The pediatric asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 IgG seropositivity in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

BACKGROUND: While children were initially thought to have serious contributions to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission, recent studies suggest otherwise. However, the possible effect of asymptomatic pediatric spread still has not yet received enough attention. The aim of our study was to estimate asymptomatic infection rates among children in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, by using pediatric patients admitted to a university hospital without any COVID-19-associated symptoms. METHODS: Blood samples collected from 80 pediatric patients with no symptoms and history of COVID-19 infection, who were admitted to a university hospital between September 2020 and January 2021, were included in the retrospective study. Isolated serum samples were tested by Dia.Pro SARS-CoV-2 IgG ELISA assays. RESULTS: The patient group included 40 (50%) male and 40 (50%) female patients. The average age of children was 7.6 ± 4.0 years, with min-max ages ranging from 2 to 15 years. Among the 80 patients tested, only one (1.3%) was detected positive by the Dia.Pro IgG ELISA kit. CONCLUSIONS: The asymptomatic seropositivity reported in our study suggests the use of randomly performed serologic tests to monitor SARS-CoV-2 infection among the pediatric population in schools that would contribute to the public health fight against COVID-19.

Positive Anti-HIV ELISA Results in Pregnancy: Is It Reliable?

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be transmitted from mothers to their babies during pregnancy, delivery through vaginal fluids or breastfeeding. As false positivity anti-HIV results due to pregnancy could be detected and no relevant study have been reported in Northern Cyprus so far, we aimed to estimate the false anti-HIV positivity rate in pregnant women. METHODS: A total of 11.977 women admitted to Near East University Hospital between 2015 and 2018 were involved. The fourth generation anti-HIV-1/2 ELISA test was carried out by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay. Positive results were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR). SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) Demo Ver 22 program was used for statistical analysis and significance (p<0.05) was measured by Person Chi-Square and Fisher's Exact tests. RESULTS: Anti-HIV-1/2 ELISA test was positive in 7 (0.3%) of pregnant and 11 (0.1%) of non-pregnant women. HIV RNA was not detected in any pregnant however, was detected in 2 (0.02%) of non pregnant. S/Co titer of pregnant and non pregnant who have positive anti-HIV-test without viral load was x̄=2.68±1.64 (1.34-5.20) and x̄=8.63±7.68 (1.56-20.98) respectively. False positivity was significantly higher in pregnants compared to non-pregnants (p=0.033). CONCLUSION: False positivity can be encountered during pregnancy therefore, positive anti-HIV-1/2 ELISA results should be confirmed with molecular techniques before initiating antiretroviral treatment.