Comprehensive natural radioactivity and pollution risk assessments of aquatic media and sediment in Lake Van (Türkiye).

This paper studies the radionuclide (137Cs, 226Ra, 232Th, 40K) activity concentrations and gross radioactivities in waters and sediments of Lake Van, which is the third largest closed lake (with no natural or artificial outlet) within the Earth. The physico-chemical parameters were measured and evaluated in the lake waters. The mean gross α activities in surface, middle and bottom waters are 0.04, 0.03 and 0.03 Bq/L, respectively, and in the same order, the mean gross ß activities are 0.30, 0.23 and 0.33 Bq/L, respectively. In sediment samples, the mean activity concentrations were measured as 1.98 Bq/g for gross-α, 3.46 Bq/g for gross-ß, 48.3 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 32.0 Bq/kg for 232Th, 540.1 Bq/kg for 40K and 25.9 Bq/kg for 137Cs. The radiation hazard parameters values based on the measured activities were calculated and Raeq values are lower than the world average value in all samples, while Dout and AED values are relatively high in some sediment samples.

Detection of seasonal asymptomatic dermatophytes in Van cats

Abstract The Van cat is a domestic landrace found in the Van province of eastern Turkey. In this study, we aimed to determine the seasonal carriage of dermatophytes in Van cats without clinical lesions. A total of 264 hair specimens were collected from clinically healthy cats in and around the Van Province. Of these samples, 30.3% were obtained in spring, 30.6% in summer, 16.6% in autumn, and 22.3% in winter; 45.1% of samples were from male cats and the rest from female ones. Of the studied cats, 118 were younger than 1 year, 78 were 1–3 years old, and 68 were older than 3 years. The specimens were subjected to direct microscopic examination with 15% potassium hydroxide and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar and dermatophyte test medium supplemented with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol. Dermatophyte identification was carried out based on macroscopic and microscopic colony morphology, urease activities, in vitro hair perforation test, growth at 37 °C, and pigmentation on corn meal agar. Dermatophytes were isolated from 19 (7.1%) of the 264 specimens examined. The most frequently isolated fungi were Trichophyton terrestre (4.1%), followed by Microsporum gypseum (1.1%), M. nanum (1.1%), and T. mentagrophytes (0.7%), and these fungi may represent a health risk for humans in contact with clinically healthy Van cats. M. canis was not isolated from any of the specimens. Our results show no significant (p > 0.05) association between carriage of dermatophytes and the gender of cats. The carriage rate of dermatophytes was high in spring and winter, and the only possible risk factor for infection was age of the animal.

Detection of seasonal asymptomatic dermatophytes in Van cats.

The Van cat is a domestic landrace found in the Van province of eastern Turkey. In this study, we aimed to determine the seasonal carriage of dermatophytes in Van cats without clinical lesions. A total of 264 hair specimens were collected from clinically healthy cats in and around the Van Province. Of these samples, 30.3% were obtained in spring, 30.6% in summer, 16.6% in autumn, and 22.3% in winter; 45.1% of samples were from male cats and the rest from female ones. Of the studied cats, 118 were younger than 1 year, 78 were 1-3 years old, and 68 were older than 3 years. The specimens were subjected to direct microscopic examination with 15% potassium hydroxide and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar and dermatophyte test medium supplemented with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol. Dermatophyte identification was carried out based on macroscopic and microscopic colony morphology, urease activities, in vitro hair perforation test, growth at 37°C, and pigmentation on corn meal agar. Dermatophytes were isolated from 19 (7.1%) of the 264 specimens examined. The most frequently isolated fungi were Trichophyton terrestre (4.1%), followed by Microsporum gypseum (1.1%), M. nanum (1.1%), and T. mentagrophytes (0.7%), and these fungi may represent a health risk for humans in contact with clinically healthy Van cats. M. canis was not isolated from any of the specimens. Our results show no significant (p>0.05) association between carriage of dermatophytes and the gender of cats. The carriage rate of dermatophytes was high in spring and winter, and the only possible risk factor for infection was age of the animal.

In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of Brucella melitensis isolates from sheep in an area endemic for human brucellosis in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to assess in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of Brucella melitensis isolates isolated from naturally infected sheep cases in an area where human brucellosis is endemic, focusing on rifampin (RIF), streptomycin (SM), ciprofloxacin (CPFX), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ), gentamicin (GM) and tetracycline (TC) and on 11 other antimicrobials. The identification and typing of Brucella isolates were carried out using standard classification tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out on Mueller-Hilton agar. The resistance to SM, CPFX and GM was determined at the rate of 7.3% and to RIF at the rate of 9.7%. The highest (46.3%) resistance was determined against TMP/SMZ. All strains were found to be sensitive to TC at the rate of 100.0%. In conclusion, ovine origin B. melitensis strains evaluated in this study were resistant to at least one antimicrobial (51.2%) that is commonly used in human clinical medicine against brucellosis.

Classical enterotoxigenic characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bovine subclinical mastitis in Van, Turkey.

The aim of the present study was to investigate classical enterotoxigenic properties of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from cows with subclinical mastitis. For this purpose, 480 milk samples from cows with subclinical mastitis raised in different villages neighbouring Van city Center were collected. A total of 106 S. aureus strains were isolated. Twenty seven isolates (25.5%) were found to be enterotoxigenic by reverse passive latex agglutination (RPLA). Of these, 25 (23.6%) were positive for staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), 2 (1.9%) for SEB. None of the isolates was positive for SEC or SED. This study showed that most S. aureus strains isolated from bovine subclinical mastitis produced SEA compared to other SEs.