Aykut Ozdarendeli

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus: genetic analysis and tick survey in Turkey.

ABSTRACT Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne virus in the family Bunyaviridae, genus Nairovirus. The virus is transmitted to humans through infected tick bites or from direct contact with viremic animals or humans. In the present study, a total of 1,015 adult ticks were collected from cattle (603 specimens), sheep (17 specimens), and goats (395 specimens) in the Kelkit Valley in Turkey. Four tick species were recognized on the animals in the surveyed region. The most abundant species were Rhipicephalus bursa and Hyalomma marginatum marginatum, at 47.68% (484/1,015) and 46.40% (471/1,015), respectively. Reverse transcriptase PCR was used to recover partial sequences of the CCHFV small (S) genome segment. The presence of CCHFV was determined in 3 of 33 (9.09%) R. bursa pools and in 1 of 31 (3.22%) H. m. marginatum pools. Virus sequences from R. bursa were extremely different from those of the Greek CCHFV strain (U04958) isolated from an R. bursa tick. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the CCHFV isolates obtained in this study clustered in group 5, whose range encompasses southwestern Russian and Kosovo. This is the first evidence of CCHFV in ticks from Turkey. Even though Hyalomma is the main vector for CCHFV, R. bursa may play a role in CCHFV transmission.

The complete genome analysis of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus isolated in Turkey

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is the causative agent of a tick-borne disease with high mortality rates in humans. The distribution of CCHFV includes over 30 countries in Asia, the Middle East, southeastern Europe, and Africa. It was first recognized in Turkey in 2002, with an increasing number of cases reported between 2002 and 2009. Recent analysis of complete genome sequences of CCHFV isolates has revealed that the genomic plasticity of the virus is surprisingly high for an arthropod-borne virus. We have determined the complete nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of strain CCHFV Turkey-Kelkit06 isolated from the blood of a patient in an endemic region of Turkey in 2006. The complete sequence length of the CCHFV Turkey-Kelkit06 strain is 19,186 nt, consisting of a 1673 nt S segment, a 5364 nt M segment, and a 12,149 nt L segment. Based on the analysis of S, M, and L segments, CCHFV Turkey-Kelkit06 clustered in Group V, which represents the Europe/Turkey geographic lineage. Although glycoproteins encoded by the M gene are the most variable part of the CCHFV Turkey-Kelkit06 strain, some functional domains of the glycoproteins are well conserved. Here, we report the complete sequence and genome organization of the CCHFV Turkey-Kelkit06 strain and its phylogenetic relationship to other strains of CCHFV. Collecting data on viral sequences among isolates from CCHF epidemics may provide valuable information regarding the molecular basis of the epidemic potential of the virus.

Genetic analysis of the M RNA segment of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus strains in Turkey

SummaryCrimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus is member of the genus Nairovirus of the family Bunyaviridae. All members of the family Bunyaviridae are enveloped viruses containing tripartite, negative polarity, single-stranded RNA. CCHF is characterized by high case mortality, occurring in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. During recent years, outbreaks have been reported in Turkey. However, little information is available on the genetic diversity of CCHF virus in Turkey. In this study, a total of 1227 adult ticks were collected from domestic ruminants (796 specimens from cattle, 399 specimens from goats and 32 specimens from sheep). The presence of the M segment of CCHF virus was determined in 4 of 40 (10%) Hyalomma marginatum marginatum pools, in 2 of 38 (7.89%) Rhipicephalus bursa pools, and in 1 of 7 (7%) Boophylus annulatus pools. Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum pools gave negative RT-PCR result against CCHF virus. Serum samples from seven patients infected with CCHF were selected and subjected to RT-PCR to amplify partial M segment of CCHF virus. This report introduces the first data on partial nucleotide sequences of M RNA segments of CCHF virus strains circulating in Turkey, isolated from ticks.

Detection of Helicobacter pylori in children with otitis media with effusion : A preliminary report

Objective: To determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the middle ear effusion of patients with otitis media with effusion (OME) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Investigation of Epstein-Barr Virus DNA in Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin- Embedded Breast Cancer Tissues

Objective: To investigate etiological role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in breast cancer. Materials and Methods: The presence of EBV DNA in 57 breast cancer tissues was investigated with a sensitive PCR assay. The breast cancer tissues were from invasive ductular (n = 28), lobular (n = 20) and other miscellaneous carcinomas (n = 9). Tissues from normal breasts and patients with various benign breast diseases (n = 55): fibrocystic disease (n = 34), fibroadenoma (n = 16), hyperplasia, and granulomatous mastitis (n = 5), were used as control samples. Results: EBV DNA was detected in 13 (23%) cancerous tissues (7 ductular, 4 lobular, 2 other carcinoma) and 19 (35%) in the control tissues. The difference between EBV presence in malignant and benign tissues was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The presence of EBV DNA was detected almost equally in both breast cancer and normal tissues, which indicates no etiological role for EBV in breast cancer. We suggest further etiological studies.

The frequency of Toxocara infection in mental retarded children

Human toxocariasis is commonly seen in places where stray and Toxocara canis-infected dog population is high. There is a strong correlation between frequency of Toxocara infection, life style, and infection risk. Institutionalization of mental retarded patients increases to risk of toxocariasis. In this study, we aimed at investigating the frequency of Toxocara infection among children with mental retardation not requiring institutionalization. The study included 96 cases, who had educatable mental retardation and 85 healthy subjects who comprised the control group. Anti-Toxocara IgG or IgM antibodies were investigated in all serum samples, using ELISA method. The frequency of Toxocara infection was found significantly higher in mental retarded cases than in those in the control group (18.8% and 7.1% respectively) (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between mental retarded children and the control group in terms of mean age, age groups, gender, owning dogs and cats and duration of their ownership, socio-economic level and behavioural factors, and personal hygiene (p > 0.05). We did not find any significant difference between Toxocara seropositive and seronegative mental retarded children in terms of demographic factors and epidemiological factors that could increase the risk of Toxocara infection (p > 0.05). The present study is the first seroprevalence study carried out with a mental retarded group not requiring institutionalization. Determination of high frequency of Toxocara infection suggests that these subjects constitute a risk factor for Toxocara infection, which may be attributed to their behavioural patterns.

Prevalence and Genotypes of Hepatitis G Virus among Hemodialysis Patients in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey

Objectives: To study the prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis G virus (HGV) in hemodialysis patients in East Anatolia, Turkey. Subjects and Materials: Eighty-nine hemodialysis patients and 30 healthy individuals were analyzed by using reverse-transcriptase nested polymerase chain reaction with primers specific for 5′ untranslated region. HGV genotyping was performed by PCR and three randomly selected HGV-positive samples were sequenced. Results: Of the 89 hemodialysis patients, HGV RNA was detected in 9 (10.2%). All of our isolates were assigned to genotype 2. Conclusion: Our results showed that hemodialysis patients carry the risk for HGV infection in East Anatolia, Turkey.

A case of mumps conjunctivitis: detection of the virus RNA by nested PCR in tear sample.

Mumps is a disease caused by a virus that can infect many parts of the body, especially the parotid salivary glands. A case of epidemic parotitis in an adult female affected by bilateral conjunctivitis is presented. Mumps virus was detected in tear samples by reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-n-PCR). The conjunctivitis resolved completely within 11 d.