Hamza Avcioglu

Prevalence and molecular characterization of bovine coenurosis from Eastern Anatolian region of Turkey

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Coenurus cerebralis, the metacestode of Taenia multiceps in cattle from Erzurum province located in eastern region of Turkey between November 2009 and April 2010. Five of 1045 brains of cattle (0.47%) were found to be infected with Coenurus cysts. The characteristics and morphology of C. cerebralis were seen in all the cysts. The cyts from three infected cattle were genetically analyzed and confirmed to be T. multiceps metacestodes by NAD1 and COX1 mitochondrial gene sequence analysis. Pairwise comparison between the NAD1 sequences of the T. multiceps isolates from Erzurum and other T. multiceps isolates available in GenBank showed differences ranging from 0.6 to 2.9%, while COX1 sequences showed differences ranging from 0.2 to 2.6%. Considering the two genes, it was seen that all of the three isolates from Erzurum province were in the same group according to phylogenetic analyses. The present findings could provide a stimulus for future studies on the systematic relationships and epidemiology of lesser-known taeniid cestodes in the region, employing mitochondrial sequence data sets.

The Relationship of Public Park Accessibility to Dogs to the Presence of Toxocara Species Ova in the Soil

This survey was conducted to determine prevalence of Toxocara spp. ova in public parks in Erzurum, Turkey. A total of 214 soil samples were collected from July 2007 to June 2008 in 36 public parks, of which 28 were unfenced and 8 were fenced. Prevalence of Toxocara spp. was 64.28% in unfenced public parks, while no contamination was observed fenced public parks (p<0.001). Average number of Toxocara spp. ova was 1.43 per 50 g sand ranging from 1 to 7. Moreover, soils from unfenced public parks were contaminated with Taeniid spp. ova (3.12%). In conclusion, public parks and/or playgrounds should be fenced to prevent fecal contamination, suggesting that a more frequent surveillance should be performed and preventive measures should be taken and enforced by local governments to reduce likelihood of zoonoses in children.

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in racehorses in Ankara, Turkey

To assess seroprevalence of Neospora spp. in asymptomatic horses in Ankara, Turkey, 19 mares and 56 stallions older than 2 years of age were examined using ELISA; 9.3% of the horses were seropositive. Seroprevalence of N. caninum in mares was twice of that in stallions (15.8 vs 7.1%) and all appeared to be asymptomatic.

First Molecular Characterization of Echinococcus multilocularis in Turkey.

This study aimed to find out the occurrence of Echinococcus multilocularis in foxes in Erzurum province, the highest endemic region for human alveolar echinococcosis in Turkey. The sedimentation and counting technique was used to reveal adult Echinococcus spp. in the intestines of foxes. One out of the 10 foxes was infected with E. multilocularis. The adult worms were analyzed morphologically and molecularly and were confirmed to be E. multilocularis by species-specific PCR. Pairwise comparisons between the 12S rRNA sequences of the E. multilocularis isolate from Erzurum and other E. multilocularis isolates showed 100% similarity of the Erzurum isolate with European isolates. With this study, the presence of E. multilocularis in a fox in Erzurum was confirmed by PCR, and molecular identification of E. multilocularis is reported for the first time in Turkey.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in jereed horses in Erzurum, Turkey

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a hemoprotozoan tick-borne disease with worldwide distribution that is caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. There are studies reporting the presence of equine piroplasmosis in Turkey but the situation in Erzurum is unknown. The aim of the current study was to determine the situation of equine piroplasmosis in jeered horses in Erzurum. Between April and August 2015, a total of 125 Arabian horse were examined and blood samples were collected. At the time of sampling, animals were also examined for tick infestations and clinical signs. Besides microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears, multiplex PCR performed with species specific primers partially amplifying the 18S rRNA gene of B. caballi and T. equi. During the microscopic examination of blood smears, T. equi piroplasms were found in 6 (4.8%) samples. In total, 11 (8.8%) T. equi DNA were detected with multiplex PCR. B. caballi piroplasms or DNA were not obtained. BLAST analysis of the sequenced T. equi samples (GenBank: KU921661–KU921667) indicated 98.8–100% identity to each other, and 100% similarity to T. equi isolates in South Africa, Iran, China, Sudan, India, Mongolia, Trinidad, Kenya, Spain, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey (Bursa). The results of our study indicate that T. equi occurs more frequently than B. caballi in the study area. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of the molecular detection of equine piroplasmosis in jeered horses in Erzurum, Turkey.

Molecular determination of Tritrichomonas spp. in aborted bovine foetuses in Eastern Anatolian Region of Turkey

Tritrichomonas foetus is the causative agent of venereal trichomonosis in cattle causing infertility, pyometra and abortions. The objectives of this study were to determine the positivity rate of Tritrichomonas spp. in abomasal content of aborted foetuses from Eastern Anatolian Region of Turkey, using staining, culture and PCR methods and to present the isolates found in the region. A total of 246 abomasal content of aborted foetuses were tested and 14 of 246 (5.7%) were Tritrichomonas spp. positive only by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Positivity was not attained by staining or culture method. Four of the positive samples in PCR were confirmed to be T. foetus by sequencing of the amplified 5.8S rRNA gene and flanking ITS regions. Nucleotide sequences of TR-Erzurum T. foetus isolates have been entered into the GenBank sequence database under accession numbers KC236423 through KC236426. This preliminary study suggests that future studies are needed on the systematic relationships and epidemiology of T. foetus isolates in the region.

Parasites Determined by Fecal Examination in Horses in Erzurum

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the parasites present in horses belonging to the Erzurum Province. METHODS Fecal samples were collected from 76 horses of different ages, genders and breeds in Erzurum. Individual fecal samples were collected and examined by flotation and sedimentation methods. RESULTS The following species were detected: strongylid egg (57.89%), Parascaris equorum (10.52%), Dicrocoelium dendriticum (2.63%), Fasciola spp. (2.63%) eggs, and Eimeria spp. oocysts (5.26%). CONCLUSION Equine animals are significantly infected with Strongylosis in the Erzurum Province, and effective parasite control measures should initiated.