Serpil Degerli

Determination of chemical profile, antioxidant, DNA damage protection and antiamoebic activities of Teucrium polium and Stachys iberica

This work deals with the evaluation of in vitro antioxidant, DNA preventing and antiamoebic activities of the water extracts of Teucrium polium and Stachys iberica. In all systems, T. polium extract exhibited excellent activity potential than that of S. iberica. The amount of total phenolics and flavonoids were high in this extract. In the presence of 40 mg/ml T. polium extract, a significant protection was observed for native super coiled DNA of pBR322 plasmid DNA. In the presence of 32 mg/ml of T. polium extract, no trophozoite was after the 24th hour.

Effects of giardiasis on school success, weight and height indices of primary school children in Turkey.

Abstract Background : Giardia intestinalis, the most common parasite in the world, causes several adverse effects on school children, with the prevalence rate ranging between 7.3% and 28% (mean 13.8%) in Turkey. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible adverse effects of G. intestinalis on success at school, and the mean weight and height of primary school children in Sivas, Turkey.

Photocatalytic disinfection of Giardia intestinalis and Acanthamoeba castellani cysts in water

In this study, disinfection of water containing Giardia intestinalis and Acanthamoeba castellani cysts with TiO2 and modified catalyst silver loaded TiO2 (Ag-TiO2) was investigated. Destruction of the parasites was evaluated after UV illumination of the suspension consisting 5 x 10(8)-13.5 x 10(8)cysts/mL in the presence of 2g/L neat or modified TiO2 at neutral pH. In the initial stage, the solid photocatalyst particles penetrated the cyst wall and then oxidant species produced by TiO2/UV destroyed both cell wall and intracellular structure. In the case of G. intestinalis inactivation (disinfection) performance of TiO2/UV system reached 52.5% only after 25 min illumination and total parasite disinfection was achieved after 30 min illumination. However, silver loaded TiO2 seemed to be more effective as this loading provided better catalytic action as well as additional antimicrobial properties. Cell viability tests showed that parasite cysts, their walls in particular, were irreversibly damaged and cysts did not re-grow. Nevertheless the studied system seemed to be ineffective for the inactivation of A. castellani. Inactivation percentages of TiO2/UV and Ag-TiO2/UV systems were far lower than that of UV alone, being 50.1% and 46.1%, respectively.

In vitro amoebicidal activity of Origanum syriacum and Origanum laevigatum on Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts and trophozoites

In some patients, complete treatment of amoebic keratitis is difficult because of the resistance of cysts to therapeutic agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro amoebicidal activity of methanolic extracts of Origanum syriacum and Origanum laevigatum. In the presence of methanolic extracts (ranging from 1.0 to 32.0mg/ml), numbers of the viable Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites and cysts were decreased. Both extracts showed a time and dose dependent amoebicidal action on the trophozoites and cysts. Of the extracts tested, O. syriacum showed the stronger amoebicidal effect on the trophozoites and cysts. In the presence of 32 mg/ml extract, no viable trophozoites were observed within third hour. The extract was also found effective against the cysts within 24th hour. In the case of O. laevigatum, no viable trophozoites were observed within 72nd hour at the concentrations of 16 and 32 mg/ml. As expected, cysts were found more resistant to the extracts than the trophozoites.

Head lice prevalence and associated factors in two boarding schools in Sivas.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of head louse infestations and the factors affecting the rate of infestation in primary school children in Sivas. METHODS A total of 342 children (249 girls and 93 boys) were examined with a louse comb for the presence of head lice. A questionnaire with 23 questions was distributed among the pupils and their parents. RESULTS The overall infestation rate for head lice was 10.2% (n=35). The infestation rate was higher in girls (13.7%) than in boys (1.1%) (p < 0.05). Children who had been infested in the past (27.1%) were more likely to be infested than those who had not been infested previously (7.2%) (p < 0.05). The same was true for children whose family members were previously infested and those who were not (30% and 8.5%, respectively) (p < 0.05). Head lice infestation was highest (20%) in children aged 6-11 and lowest (5.3%) in children aged 13-15 (p < 0.05). The frequency of bathing and washing their hair, sharing combs, beds and towels, the hair color, hair thickness and quantity of dandruff, the number of family members and number of rooms per family member, were not significantly different between infested and non-infested children, A significant difference was found in the infestation of long haired (15.1%) compared with short haired pupils (4.5%) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Girls were more often infested than boys and children who were previously infested with lice, or came from families where there had been previous infestation, had a greater chance of being re-infested.

The Prevalence of Pediculus humanus capitis and the Coexistence of Intestinal Parasites in Young Children in Boarding Schools in Sivas, Turkey

Abstract:  The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Pediculus humanus capitis and the coexistence of intestinal parasites in boarding primary schools in Sivas, Turkey. Seven hundred seventy‐two students (350 [45.3%] girls, 422 [54.7%] boys) were evaluated with combing for the presence of head lice, collection of fecal samples, and examination of the perianal region for intestinal parasites using the cellophane tape method. The overall infestation rate for head lice was 6% (n = 46). Nine children had evidence of nits only (1.2%), whereas living lice and nits or eggs were found in 37 children (4.8%). Girls were significantly more commonly infested (12.9%) than boys (0.2%). Of the parameters evaluated, socioeconomic level, number of rooms per family, and size and weight of the children were statistically significantly different between the children with and without lice. Although the infestation rate of children with intestinal parasites was higher in the head louse‐infested group (23.9%) than in the group of children without lice (17.6%), the differences were not statistically significant.

The cytopathic effects of Trichomonas vaginalis on fibroblast cell culture alone and with C. albicans and E. coli.

OBJECTIVE In this study, the cytopathic effects of Trichomonas vaginalis were investigated in L929 mouse fibroblast cell cultures (FCC) under different conditions: only parasite, or coexistence with Candida albicans and Escherichia coli. METHODS The parasite was isolated from a symptomatic patient and cultured in Cysteine-Peptone-Liver infusion Maltose medium (CPLM). C. albicans strain 10235 and E. coli strain 25922 were used in the experiments. Five groups were created and inoculated on FCC. The groups were as follows; only T. vaginalis, C. albicans, E. coli, T. vaginalis+C. albicans and T. vaginalis+E. coli. The plates were incubated for 24 hours and cell viability was examined under an inverted microscope. Each experiment was repeated 11 times. RESULTS The fibroblast death rate was 19.1%, 21%, 40.9%, 96.5% and 89.6% in the five groups, respectively. CONCLUSION All fibroblasts were alive in the control group. T. vaginalis showed almost 100% cytopathic effects on FCC with C. albicans and parasites were very motile in this coexistence.

Investigation of Demodex Spp. prevalence among managers and workers of health hazard bearing and sanitary establishment

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Two Demodex species are known to live on people. Demodex folliculorum lives in the openings of hair follicles alone or in groups. D brevis lives in the depths of the sebaceous glands alone. There are different related on the epidemiology of Demodex species have been published. METHOD In this study, taking into account that the parasite is transmitted through close contact from person to person, we aimed to evaluate the relation between the presence of Demodex spp with gender and age among the Health hazard bearing and sanitary establishment operators and workers who came for porter examination. RESULTS For this purpose, 862 male and 215 female patients with a total of 1077 volunteers from the face area of the standard superficial skin biopsy (SSSB) method and studied samples were taken. More than five mites in 1 cm(2) density was defined as positive. In investigated samples 37.3% Demodex spp. positivity was detected. Only two were found to be D brevis and the others were D folliculorum. The study revealed statistically significant relationships between the positivity of parasites with the occupational group, age and sex. CONCLUSION Since the prevalence of Demodex among healthy individuals without any complaint was found to be 37%, we believe Demodex spp should be investigated in porter examinations of people who have dermatological complaints.

Distribution of Enterobius Vermicularis and biochemical analysis of parasitosis primary school student

SUMMARY Objective: This study was made in two Primary School, which is in Kocaeli city Derince. The aim of this study was to detect of Enterobius vermicularis (oxyuris) prevelance and relation of bloods which taken from children with made biochemical parameters by biochemical analysis Method: In this study, which was made selophan band method. Results: At study, E. vermicularis spawn have been found at 20 of 722 students (2,8%), and E. vermicular spawn have been not found at 702 students (97,2%). It’s 9 are male (49,7%) and 11 are female (50,3%). Study have been realised 7 to 15 ages and it have been fixed to more often of parasite prevelance with 3,6% 7 to 9 ages. But this situation have not been logical by statistically. When compaired height and weight of students, statistically a clear difference have been found. The student E.vermicularis have been detected, eosinophil values clearly high and HCT values detected low and this situation have been found logical statistically(p=0,000, p<0,05). Conclusions : Enterobiosis is still the most common parasitic diseases in children. Keywords: Kocaeli, cellophane band, Enterobius vermicularis , socio-economical status, biochemical analysis. OZET Amac: Bu calismada, Kocaeli Ilinin Derince Ilcesindeki iki ilkogretim okulundaki Enterobiyoz dagiliminin saptanmasi ve enterobiyozlu cocuklarin kan orneklerinin biyokimyasal analizlerini yaparak biyokimyasal parametrelerle enterobiyozis arasindaki iliskinin ortaya konmasi amaclanmistir. Yontem: Arastirmada 722 ogrenciden alinan selofanbant ornekleri incelenmistir. Bulgular: 722 ogrencinin 20’sinde (%2,8) E. vermicularis yumurtasina rastlanilmistir. Pozitif saptanan olgularin 9’u (%49,7) erkek, 11’i (%50,3) kizdir. Arastirma 7-15 yas araliginda gerceklestirilmis olup parazit prevalansinin %3,6 ile 7-9 yas grubunda daha sik goruldugu saptanmistir. Ogrenciler boy ve kilolarina gore karsilastirildiginda E.vermicularis gorulen ve gorulmeyen ogrenciler arasinda belirgin oranda bir fark gozlenmis ve istatistiksel olarak anlamli bulunmustur. Ogrenciler sosyoekonomik durumlarina gore E. vermicularis gorulme sikligi yonunden karsilastirilmis ve istatistiksel olarak anlamli bir fark bulunmustur (p=0,000 p<0,05). Enterobiyozlu cocuklarda en sik rastlanan klinik semptom agizdan salya akmasi olmustur. E. vermicularis yumurtasi saptanan ogrencilerde eozinofil degerleri belirgin oranda yuksek cikmis ve HCT degeri dusuk cikmis bu durum istatistiksel olarak anlamli bulunmustur. Sonuc: Ilkogretim cagi cocuklarinda enterobiyoz hala en sik gorulen parazitoz olarak saptanmaktadir Anahtar sozcukler: Kocaeli, selofan bant, Enterobius vermicularis , sosyo-ekonomik durum, biyokimyasal analiz.

İshalli hastalarda direkt fluoresan antikor-dfa yöntemi ile giardia ve cryptosporidium spp. araştırılması

Ozet Amac. Cryptosporidium spp. ve Giardia intestinalis insanda ishal nedeni olabilen onemli protozoonlardir. Bu parazitozlarin tanisinda etkensel tani yontemlerinin yaninda antijen tarama testleri de kullanilabilmektedir. Calismamizda ishalli hastalarda konvansiyonel yontemlerle birlikte Direkt Fluoresan Antikor (DFA) yontemi ile G.intestinalis ve Cryptosporidium spp. varliginin saptanmasi ve bu iki protozoonun gastroenterit olgularindaki rolunun arastirilmasi amaclanmistir. Yontem. Sivas il merkezindeki uc hastanenin (Cumhuriyet Universitesi Uygulama ve Arastirma Hastanesi, Sivas Numune ve Sivas Devlet Hastanesi) cesitli servislerine enterit yakinmalariyla basvuran 32’si kadin, 68’i erkek toplam 100 ishalli hastaya ait diski orneklerinde direkt inceleme ve asit-fast boyama yontemi ile yapilan mikroskobik incelemelerde parazitlere ait kist ve/veya ookistler, DFA yontemi ile parazitlere ait antijenler arastirilmistir. Incelenen grupta yer alan hastalar 0-80 yas araliginda bulunmaktadir. Bulgular. Calismada, ishalli 100 diski orneginin 2’sinde direkt mikroskobide G.intestinalis gorulmustur. Asit-fast boyama ile birinde Cryptosporidium spp. gorulurken, DFA ile 4’unde (%4,0) Cryptosporidium spp., 2’sinde (%2,0) G. intestinalis antijenlerine rastlanmistir. Cryptosporidium spp. saptanan hastalarin eriskin yas grubunda yer almasi ilginc bulunmustur. Sonuc. Cryptosporidium spp. ve G. intestinalis’in ikisini de iceren DFA testleri rutin calismalarda ve prevalans arastirmalarinda kullanilabilen kolay, duyarli ve guvenilir bir testtir. Diger taraftan enterit nedenleri arasinda sayilan bu iki protozoon incelenen hasta grubunda toplam %6 oraninda bulunmustur. Anahtar sozcukler: Cryptosporidium spp., giardia intestinalis, DFA, ishal Abstract Aim. Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia intestinalis are important parasitic protozoan causing diarrhea in developing and developed countries. Diagnosis of the Cryptosporidium oocyst in stool samples by conventional microscopy is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Thus, we aimed the presence of these protozoa in patients with diarrhea and to evaluate the usefulness of direct fluoresan antibody (DFA) test in detecting Cryptosporidium spp and G.intestinalis. from fecal specimens. Methods. For this aim, microscopy and specific antigen detection methods were used to determine Cryptosporidium spp. and G.intestinalis. One hundred stool specimens were examined taken from patients with diarrhea whose ages ranged from 0 to 80 of applied to Hospital of Cumhuriyet University, Numune and Goverment Hospital in Sivas. All samples were tested for Cryptosporidium spp. G.intestinalis antigen by DFA and oocysts via gold Standard modified acid-fast staining for Cryptosporidium spp.and G.intestinalis direct microscopy. Results. One specimen was found to be positive by modified acid-fast staining method and four specimens by DFA method were found to be positive for cryptosporidiosis. On the other hand two specimens were found to be positive both direct microscopy and DFA for giardiosis. Conclusion. The results of DFA test indicate that the simple, rapid, reliable, and standardized test is sensitive and specific for routine diagnosis and may be useful for large-scale epidemiological studies of cryptosporidiosis and giardiosis. Keywords: Cryptosporidium spp., giardia intestinalis, DFA, diarrhea