Adile Muz

Genotyping of broiler-originated Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates using fla typing and random amplified polymorphic DNA methods

Liver and intestine samples taken from 200 broilers at 20 flocks were inoculated onto Preston Enrichment broth and agar for selective isolation of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. The isolates were identified by both conventional and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Campylobacter spp. were identified in 102 of 400 samples (200 liver and 200 intestine), 57 (14.25%) of which were identified as C. jejuni and 45 (11.25%) as C. coli. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the flagellin gene (flaA) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) typing were used to describe the heterogeneity among amplified DNA products of C. jejuni and C. coli isolates. Flagellin gene analysis by RFLP of the isolates produced seven different band profiles. On the other hand, five distinct band profiles were obtained in the examination of the isolates with RAPD assay using a random primer (OPA-11). The results of this study demonstrated that a relatively low heterogeneity existed among C. jejuni and C. coli strains isolated from the commercial broiler flocks in eastern Turkey. In the comparison of both typing methods, fla typing provided more discrimination than the RAPD assay used.

Decreased pituitary hormone levels in a sheep with pituitary abscess

A four-year-old Akkaraman ewe was presented to the Firat University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for circling, dullness, weakness and sternal recumbency. On physical examination, opisthotonus, mydriasis in the right eye and myosis in the left eye, absence of the pupillary reflex, ruminal tympany were detected. Serum pituitary hormone analyses indicated the hypopituitarism characterized by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) < 0.05 IU/L, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) < 0.13 IU/L, luteinizing hormone (LH) < 0.10 IU/L and prolactin (PRL) < 0.50 ng/ml. On the basis of clinical presentation and hypopituitarism, tentative diagnosis of pituitary abscess was made. The animal was euthanized due to the poor prognosis. Morphological examination revealed coexistence of hypophyseal-carotid rete abscess and hyaline thrombosis in carotid rete, heteropic ossification in carotid rete and tuberal muscles. Microbiologically; Arcanobacterium pyogenes was isolated in blood agar culture from the hypophysis. Decreased serum pituitary hormone levels including TSH, FSH, LH and PRL in conjunction with the clinical findings were a useful diagnostic tool for antemortem diagnosis of pituitary abscess in the sheep.

Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of Helicobacter pylori isolates from patients with gastrointestinal complaints in Eastern Turkey

The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic variations among isolates of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) obtained from patients with gastritis (G) and peptic ulcer (PU) in Elazig Province, East of Turkey and to determine association between restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) types and clinical/histopathological outcomes. Determining the dominant genotypes among H. pylori isolates would detect potential risk and aid in the development of improved treatment and control strategies. Sixty one H. pylori-isolates [29 males and 32 females, 51 with G, 10 with PU (duodenal ulcer (DU) or gastric ulcer (GU)] were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP) for detecting the genetic diversity among H. pylori isolates. By (PCR-RFLP) analysis, H. pylori isolates yielded five (A-E) different band profiles. The most common type of H. pylori isolates from patients with chronic active, chronic active non-atrophic and chronic atrophic G was type B (55, 88.9 and 100%, respectively). However, most of the isolates from patients with DU and GU were type D (75 and 100%, respectively). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on PCR-RFLP analysis of H. pylori isolates in Elazig Province, the East of Turkey. This study indicated that the genetic heterogenecity among H. pylori isolated from patients is low, and the clinical/histopathological outcomes of H. pylori isolates associated to the RFLP types.