Bilal Dik

Vertical distribution of Culicoides larvae and pupae

Abstract This study was carried out in the northeast region of Konya in Turkey, between April and December 2004, to determine the vertical distribution of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) larvae and pupae. Larvae and pupae were collected using the saturated sugar flotation technique in mud samples taken from a range of depths of up to 20 cm. In total, 282 adult Culicoides were obtained. The number of larvae and pupae decreased as the depth increased; at 2.5 cm, 97 Culicoides larvae and 73 Culicoides pupae were found. Larvae and pupae of C. nubeculosus (Meigen) and C. puncticollis (Becker) were mostly found in organic matter‐rich breeding sites, while larvae and pupae of C. gejgelensis Dzhafarov and C. festivipennis Kieffer were mostly found in organic matter‐poor breeding sites. Culicoides larvae and pupae were obtained largely in July and August.

Nosocomial Oral Myiasis by Sarcophaga sp. in Turkey

We present a case of oral myiasis in a 15-year-old boy with tuberculosis meningitis. The diagnosis was based on the visual presence of wriggling larvae about 1 cm in size and on the microscopic features of the maggots, especially those relating to stigmatic structures. The larvae were identified as third-stage larvae of Sarcophaga sp.

A review of species diversity and distribution of Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Turkey

This paper reviews the species composition and distribution of Culicoides biting midges in Turkey for the first time. The Culicoides fauna of Turkey is diverse, with 57 reported species collected in 54 localities across the Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean, and Central, Eastern and Southeastern Anatolian Regions of Turkey. No records are available for the Black Sea Region. The most widespread species include Culicoides cataneii Clastrier, C. circumscriptus Kieffer, C. festivipennis Kieffer, C. gejgelensis Dzhafarov, C. longipennis Khalaf, C. maritimus Kieffer, C. nubeculosus (Meigen), C. obsoletus (Meigen), C. odiatus Austen, C. pulicaris (Linnaeus), C. puncticollis (Becker), C. saevus Kieffer, and C. shaklawensis Khalaf, whereas C. denisoni Boorman, C. dewulfi Goetghebuer, C. fagineus Edwards, C. minutissmus (Zetterstedt), C. montanus Schakirzjanova, C. semimaculatus Clastrier, C. slovacus Orszagh, and C. turanicus Gutsevich and Smatov are represented from only one locality. Only single specimens represent the country records of C. dewulfi and C. seifadinei. The potential of Turkish Culicoides in zoonotic arbovirus, protozoa, and nematode transmission is discussed.

Chemical characteristics of breeding sites of Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

We determined chemical characteristics of the breeding sites of Culicoides species in Turkey. Soil samples containing pupae and larvae of Culicoides species were collected between January and December 2004 and fly emergence was recorded in the laboratory. Percent organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity and mineral constituents of habitat samples were quantified to determine habitat preferences of the emerging species. A total of 1623 mature Culicoides flies comprising 10 species emerged from soil samples collected from 8 different habitat types. A total of 856 (53%) flies were recovered from habitats containing mud rich in dung near water reservoirs, 288 (18%) from mud in reed sites, 279 (17%) from mud in swamps, 78 (5%) from mud along side the streams, 39 (2.4%) from mud around dams, 38 (2.3%) from mud near dripping water, 30 (2%) from mud in rain puddles and 15 (1.0%) from moist soil. While C. nubeculosus (Meigen) and C. puncticollis (Becker) were encountered more in mud rich in dung near water reservoirs and mud in swamps; C. gejgelensis Dzhafarov and C. festivipennis Kieffer were more common in mud alongside streams. C. circumscriptus Kieffer was encountered in most habitats and no Culicoides flies emerged from livestock dung samples and tree holes. The number of C. festivipennis Kieffer was significantly correlated with organic matter, P, K and Zn while the number of C. nubeculosus (Meigen) was significantly correlated with pH, P and K.

Prevalence and intensity of Oestrus ovis in Akkaraman sheep in the Konya region of Turkey

Abstract Slaughterhouse surveys to determine the prevalence and intensity of larval Oestrus ovis Linnaeus (Diptera: Oestridae) in sheep, were conducted monthly for 1 year in Konya, Turkey. A total of 624 sheep, selected at random, were examined and 59% were found to be infested by O. ovis. A total of 8801 larvae were collected, of which 68.9% were first‐stage, 19.1% second‐stage and 12% third‐stage larvae. All three larval stadia were seen in each month of the year. The larval intensity for infected sheep was 23.9, with 16.48 L1, 4.55 L2 and 2.87 L3. The monthly prevalence ranged from 34.6% in January to 76.9% in October. The largest number of larvae (180) was obtained from a sheep in August (122 L1, 52 L2 and 6 L3). The infestation rate was higher in 4–6‐year‐old sheep, at 72.6%. The infestation rates were 64.4% in female and 47.5% in male sheep.

Percutaneous Sonographically Guided Treatment of Hydatid Cysts in Sheep Direct Injection of Mebendazole and Albendazole

Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate the scolicidal effect of intracystic injection of benzimidazolic solutions in naturally infected sheep with hydatid disease. Methods. Twenty‐four sheep with 37 hydatid cysts were included in this study for percutaneous treatment with benzimidazolic solutions. The animals were divided into 3 groups: group I, treatment group with mebendazole; group II, treatment group with albendazole; and group III, control group with distilled water. All solutions were given percutaneously under sonographic guidance. Cyst contents were aspirated with a needle, and then scolicidal solutions were injected into the cysts; reaspiration was not done. Routine follow‐up sonographic images were taken on the 15th day after treatment, then once per month for 3 months, and then at 3‐month intervals thereafter. At the 1‐month follow‐up, the percutaneous aspirate yielded orange juice–like material containing necrotic debris without living scolices. Results. Sonography showed a reduction in cyst size in the benzimidazolic groups (groups I and II) and progressive changes in echo patterns. An anaphylactic reaction was observed during the procedure in 1 animal. After 12 months of sonographic follow‐up, the animals in all groups were killed, and macroscopic and microscopic changes in tissue samples were evaluated. At autopsy, no cysts with living scolices were found in the benzimidazolic groups, and the appearance of the treated cysts was different from that of those in the control group. Microscopic examination showed the degeneration, necrosis, and thickening of the cyst walls in the treatment groups. Conclusions. Intracystic injection of benzimidazolic solutions as scolicidal agents may be used for percutaneous treatment of hepatic hydatid cysts in sheep.

Current knowledge of Turkey's louse fauna.

The current knowledge on the louse fauna of birds and mammals in Turkey has not yet been completed. Up to the present, a total of 109 species belonging to 50 genera of lice have been recorded from animals and humans, according to the morphological identification. Among the avian lice, a total of 43 species belonging to 22 genera were identified in Ischnocera (Philopteridae). 35 species belonging to 14 genera in Menoponidae were detected and only 1 species was found in Laemobothriidae in Amblycera. Among the mammalian lice, a total of 20 species belonging to 8 genera were identified in Anoplura. 8 species belonging to 3 genera in Ischnocera were determined and 2 species belonging to 2 genera were detected in Amblycera in the mammalian lice.

Chewing Lice (Phthiraptera) found on songbirds (Passeriformes) in Turkey

OBJECTIVE This study was performed to detect chewing lice species found on the songbirds at Lake Kuyucuk bird ringing station in the Kars province located in eastern Turkey. METHODS Chewing lice were collected from songbirds captured between September and October 2009. Fifty-one birds belonging to 22 species and 16 genera from 10 families were examined for the louse. RESULTS Eleven of 51 birds (21.57%) belonging to 7 species; were infested with at least one chewing louse species. The collected lice were identified as Menacanthus chrysophaeus (Kellogg, 1896) on Reed Bunting, Menacanthus pusillus (Nitzsch,1866) on Water Pipits, Calandra Lark and Yellow Wagtail, Myrsidea rustica (Giebel,1874) on Swallow, Brueelia cruciata (Burmeister,1838) on Red-backed Shrike, and Penenirmus rarus (Zlotorzycka,1976) on Chiffchaff. All four Reed Bunting specimens were infested with Menacanthus chrysophaeus. The rate of infestation was 100% in Reed Bunting, Red-backed Shrike and Swallow; 66.7% in Yellow Wagtail; 50% in Calandra Lark and Chiffchaff and 11.1% in Water Pipits. No louse infestation was found in the birds belonging to Paridae, Passeridae, Sylviidae, and Muscipapidae families. CONCLUSION Menacanthus chrysophaeus on Reed Bunting and Menacanthus pusillus on Calandra Lark are new hosts for these lice species. All the louse species determined in the present study are first records for Turkey.

Chewing Lice (Phthiraptera) Species on Wild Birds in Cappadocia Region, Turkey

OBJECTIVE This study was performed on 70 injured wild birds belonging to 7 different species in the Cappadocia region between 2005 and 2009. All birds were inspected for ectoparasites and 29 of 70 (41.4%) birds were found to be infested by at least one chewing louse species. METHODS All lice were cleared in 10% KOH, mounted in Canada balsam on slides and identified under a light microscope. RESULTS The lice were identified as Laemobothrion maximum, Craspedorrhynchus platystomus, Degeeriella fulva and Colpocephalum nanum from the long-legged buzzards (Buteo rufinus), as C. platystomus, L. maximum, D. fulva and C. nanum from the common buzzards (Buteo buteo), as D. fulva and Colpocephalum sp. from the honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), as Colpocephalum milvi and L. maximum from the black kites (Milvus migrans), as Strigiphilus barbatus from the long-eared owl (Asio otus), as Comatomenapon elongatum from the great egret (Egretta alba) and as Colpocephalum zebra from the white stork (Ciconia ciconia). CONCLUSION Honey buzzard was found as a new host for Degeeriella fulva and Colpocephalum sp. and these lice were recorded for the first time in this study. Colpocephalum milvi from the black kite and Comatomenapon elongatum from the great egret have been reported for the first time with this study in Turkey.

New records of chewing lice (Phthiraptera) from some bird species in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE This study was carried out to detect chewing-lice found on some birds in Turkey. METHODS For this aim, a Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto), a budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) and a marbled duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris) were examined for the louse. RESULTS Columbicola bacillus (Giebel, 1866) was found on a Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto), Afrimenopon waar (Eichler, 1947) on a budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) and Anatoecus icterodes (Nitzsch, 1818) on a marbled duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris). CONCLUSION All three louse species were recorded for the first time in Turkey. Anatoecus icterodes was reported for the first time from marbled duck in the worldwide. Therefore, marbled duck is a new host for Anatoecus icterodes.